The consignment later failed a quarantine inspection and was taken to a facility for cleaning before being released back to the freighting company.
As the Mickleys awaited arrival of their cargo, records allegedly show Taj using encrypted app Threema to discuss sale of the cocaine.
“Yeah bro,” the younger Mickley allegedly responded when asked by an unknown person if he was keeping four kilograms of the shipment.
“Okay got ya,” was his alleged reply when told to increase the price per ounce.
Several days later, Taj allegedly broke the bad news of a delay.
“Yo the f—in truck broke down … It’s here Monday, will send photos once cracked.”
AFP officers were watching as the Mickleys arrived at the storage unit on an overcast September morning and unloaded the generator with a forklift.
Half an hour later, Keenan Mickley used the encrypted messaging app Signal to contact a user named soloandas67.
“All good brother – about to get to work. Side panels of base right?”
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He would not see the response. After trips to Bunnings Narrabeen for angle grinders and blades, father and son were arrested by AFP officers outside the storage unit and charged with jointly attempting to possess a commercial quantity of cocaine.
Taj Mickley will re-appear in court later this month, and Keenan Mickley will next month attempt to convince the Supreme Court to grant him conditional freedom.
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