A former airport employee who generated $450,000 from selling personal electronics stolen from cargo at Sydney Airport has been sentenced to three years and four months’ imprisonment.
The AFP identified the man, 38, as a potential suspect following a report of a theft at the airport’s cargo facility in February 2022. The man was employed as a freight handler and had access to electronic devices located in an air cargo container.
On 5 May, 2022, the AFP executed a search warrant at the man’s Green Valley home and seized smartphones, smart watches and tablet devices worth about $50,000
Further inquiries revealed the man had received a number of electronic devices stolen from the airport facility which he then sold, gifted, or kept for personal use.
AFP officers located $189,000 cash in the boot of the man’s car and identified a further $261,000 transferred into his personal bank accounts. This money, which totalled $450,000, was criminal proceeds generated from the sale of the stolen electronic devices.
The man was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property contrary to section 188 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime contrary to section 193B (2) of Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
The man’s partner, 45, was also arrested and charged with two counts of dealing with money or other property reasonable suspected of being proceeds of crime under $100,000 contrary to section 400.9 (1A) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The pair pleaded guilty to the charges and on 11 December 2023. The woman was sentenced by the Downing Centre District Court to an intensive corrections order of 70 hours community service.
On Wednesday (29 May 2024), the man was sentenced by the Downing Centre District Court to three years and four months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two years.
AFP Sydney Airport Police Commander Morgen Blunden said the AFP was committed to targeting crime occurring at the airport.
“People with trusted access in an airport precinct are critical to the successful operation of Australia’s tourism and trade sectors, but the AFP will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute those who abuse this trust,” Det. Supt Blunden said.
“Criminals are motivated by profit and greed and the AFP has zero tolerance to those to abuse their access to airside operations for their illegal pursuits.”
