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A prison officer is accused of smuggling an encrypted phone into a maximum-security prison which helped a drug lord allegedly orchestrate a fake terror plot in Sydney, Australian Federal Police has claimed in court.
Justin James Collier, 26, was working as a guard at the privately run Parklea prison in Sydney’s west when he allegedly smuggled in an encrypted device for heroin kingpin Guy Habkouk.
Heroin importer Guy Habkouk arrested in Sydney. He allegedly dreamed up a fake terror plot behind bars in a bid to secure clemency.Credit: Australian Federal Police
Habkouk was awaiting trial in prison over his attempt to import almost 350 kilograms of heroin into Sydney in 2020 with the help of his construction boss brother Wade.
The Habkouks, who have both since pleaded guilty to the imports, had tried to sneak the drugs into Sydney in commercial bakery mixers aboard a Malaysia flight.
While awaiting trial, the AFP claims Guy Habkouk dreamed up a plan for clemency that would see him walk away with a new identity – he was going to create a terror plot.
Collier, the AFP claimed in a statement, snuck Habkouk a phone running the encrypted communications platform known as Ghost.
However, unbeknown to users, Ghost had been breached in late 2024 by an AFP operation known as Kraken.
Documents, released by the courts relating to a separate alleged Ghost user, say Habkouk was a “high-value AFP target” and used the handle “Gunshot” on the encrypted app to make his plans from behind bars.
“He has access to a bomb, a real deal … but we need to get our hands on an electronic detonator,” Habkouk allegedly told an associate via Ghost, according to the documents.
Wade Habkouk, a construction boss turned drug importer, leaves court in 2024. His brother, Guy, allegedly schemed up a fake terror attack behind bars.Credit: AAP
Habkouk’s associate allegedly replied that they were sourcing a rocket-propelled grenade launcher (RPG) and had a farm to stash the wares “for when the time comes”.
“Machines gunz, bombs the RPG what ever the f--- we get hands on we stack,” the associate wrote to Habkouk, according to documents.
Habkouk and the associate allegedly discussed sourcing grenades to detonate in shopping centres and maps which would suggest “targets” for the terror attack including Sydney Harbour.
The final ingredient, as per the documents, was “junkies” who they would set up as the culprits.
It was important not to “over do it”, Habkouk allegedly told his associate, according to the documents.
Habkouk would contact the authorities, turn in the plot, and walk away with a “clean slate” for him and his family, he allegedly told his friend.
In one disturbing message, Habkouk’s associate allegedly suggested firing on NSW Police’s Parramatta headquarters.
That building is named after a police accountant, Curtis Cheng, who was killed by a radicalised teenage terrorist supplied a gun by a member of the Alameddine crime gang in 2015.
Guy Habkouk remains before the courts on charges including perverting the course of justice, and has pleaded not guilty.
Wade Habkouk is serving 15 years in prison over the heroin importation, while Guy awaits sentence for the drugs conviction.
Collier did not appear in the Downing Centre’s JMT court on Tuesday as his matter was briefly mentioned. He will return to court later this month.
“Examinations of an encrypted device found in the possession of one of the men allegedly suggested a serving corrections officer exploited his position for the benefit of a criminal organisation,” the AFP said on Tuesday.
“It’s alleged this person smuggled a dedicated encrypted communications device into a correctional facility in exchange for money.”
AFP officers searched Collier’s home in Gables, in Sydney’s north-west, in September 2024, and allegedly seized pistol rounds and electronic devices.
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He was charged in May this year with corruptly receiving less than $2000, and committing an offence for a criminal organisation.
Both charges, if proven, carry up to seven years in prison.
“Taking bribes, however big or small, erodes trust and weakens democracy,” AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty said in a statement.
“Such actions have ripple effects. In this instance, we allege the man assisted a criminal syndicate alleged to be involved in drug and firearms trafficking, extortion and kidnapping.”
“The AFP owes it to the Australian public to prosecute these matters to the full extent of the law.”
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