The architects behind a colossal, two-year drug trafficking scheme involving a light plane and 548 kilograms of cocaine have been handed substantial prison terms in Victoria. The audacious plan, which carried an estimated street value upwards of $80 million, tragically collapsed in mere seconds when the overloaded aircraft crashed shortly after take-off.

In a Victorian County Court hearing on Thursday, two key figures and an accomplice were sentenced for their roles in the failed 2020 operation. Judge John Kelly did not mince words, telling the men, "Had you succeeded you would have been rich beyond measure. You were undone by your greed."

The Elaborate Scheme Unveiled

The ill-fated plot, which had been meticulously planned for nearly two years, involved modifying a Cessna light plane to accommodate the massive haul of illicit drugs. The aircraft initially flew from Mareeba in Queensland to an undisclosed location north of Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby, in July 2020. Onboard for the journey were seemingly innocuous items like flat-screen televisions, Sony PlayStations, and jerry cans.

Upon arrival, these items were swapped out for bags containing the half-tonne of cocaine. However, the return leg of the journey was cut short dramatically. Moments after lifting off from a makeshift runway, the overloaded Cessna plummeted into nearby trees, effectively ending the smuggling attempt before it truly began. The plane's pilot, David Cutmore, was subsequently apprehended and sentenced to 18 years in a Papua New Guinean jail for his involvement.

Severe Penalties for the Masterminds

The court heard that the ringleader of the syndicate, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was motivated by significant gambling debts and "obligations to shadowy figures." Judge Kelly noted the man's claim of having "fallen in with undesirables" and accumulating "debts no honest man could pay." This individual received the most severe penalty: 22 years in jail with a non-parole period of 13 years for conspiring to import a commercial quantity of cocaine.

His second-in-command, Aiden Khoder, was described by the judge as "ambitious and greedy" and a repeat drug trafficker. Khoder was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment, with a minimum of 12 years before being eligible for parole. George Machem, who performed "routine legwork" for the syndicate, received a seven-year jail term with a minimum of four years on a lesser drug charge.

A Sombre Day in Court

The sentencing brought a wave of raw emotion to the courtroom. Dozens of supporters, described as initially chatting warmly like old friends, packed the court, necessitating a shift to a larger room. By the conclusion of the proceedings, some wept loudly and required consolation, a stark illustration of the human cost of such criminal enterprises.

Judge Kelly acknowledged the profound impact the sentences would have not only on the offenders but also on their families, including young children. The court was told of one child who missed his father so acutely that he clutched one of his shirts nightly in bed. All offenders expressed regret for their actions, with Judge Kelly concluding, "The scope of your planned importation was colossal. You would have certainly become wealthy men. Now you are sorry."

After years of legal proceedings, the trio finally agreed to plead guilty last year. The massive cocaine haul, which had been stashed in nearby mangroves following the crash and quickly discovered by authorities, was ultimately incinerated by law enforcement in Queensland in 2024, closing the chapter on this high-stakes, failed drug plot.