For only $10,000 each, two men agreed to retrieve more than $150 million in drugs concealed in industrial machinery flown into Australia.
The duo were later caught red-handed with the 230kg cocaine and methamphetamine haul as they tried to angle-grind their way into the imported equipment.
Teghveer Singh, 22, and Omar Hadid, 23, were arrested by Australian Federal Police at a garage in the Sydney suburb of Prestons on July 2, 2022 with the haul, which arrived in a shipment from the United States.
Both pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug and appeared at Parramatta District Court for a sentence hearing on Wednesday.
Singh's barrister Greg James KC tried to downplay the duo's role in the scheme.
"They are labourers, not distributors; contractors, not executives," he told Judge Stephen Hanley.
Singh arranged to deconstruct the machine at his friend's garage and went to Bunnings to purchase the angle grinder.
At the time of their arrest, police estimated the street value of the drugs was over $150 million.
Hadid's barrister Grant Brady argued there was no professionalism or experience in the two men's actions, adding the duo did a terrible job in opening the machinery.
Messages sent by two unknown handlers showed they were micro-managing the pair, warning them effectively to "get on with it", the court heard.
While a police search of Hadid's car found 240 resealable bags, rolls of black plastic, drop sheets and gloves purchased the day before, there was no evidence these items were going to be used in the repackaging of the drugs, Judge Hanley was told.
The duo watched Wednesday's hearing by video-link from separate rooms at Clarence Correctional Facility.
Mr James said Singh was a young, industrious man who had shown good prospects of rehabilitation during the 415 days he had spent in custody since his arrest.
The Jamisontown man had also shown remorse for his serious criminal offence, he said.
Mr Brady submitted that Hadid was a vulnerable young man who had used drugs since he was 13 years old and suffered from anxiety and depression.
The Roselands man had also been assaulted in prison after his arrest.
"This is a young man who made a mistake and a big one, obviously, bearing in mind where he is," Mr Brady said.
Crown prosecutor Adam McGrath said the pair's young age should not be used to lower either their criminal culpability or their sentence.
"This was premeditated and planned, and has all the hallmarks of adult offending," he said.
He denied claims they were merely labourers, saying that a degree of trust had been placed in them to store the drugs and they were fully aware of the illegality of the scheme.
Mr McGrath pointed to messages in which the handlers said five Toyota Hiluxes at the garage would be used to transport the drugs and ram police vehicles.
"Those dealing with them are making it plain that this is something that is highly illegal," he said.
The pair will be sentenced on October 9.
