A joint investigation by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has resulted in three men being charged for importing approximately three hundred kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia.
ABF officers in Melbourne examined a consignment of metal gates that arrived into port from China. X-ray images showed abnormalities within the gates. They then deconstructed part of the gates, discovering packages covered in plastic wrap. Inside the plastic was a white crystalline substance. Presumptive testing indicated a positive match to methamphetamine.
The matter was then referred to the AFP. Officers then deconstructed all the gates with a total of three hundred one kilogram packages being discovered within the metal frames. The estimated street value of the drugs is approx $300 million.
A controlled delivery was made with three men attempting to gain access to the consignment. These three men were arrested.
AFP Detective Superintendent Neil Burnage, Coordinator Crime Operations, said the success of this operation was a credit to the flexibility, perseverance and skill of the investigators involved.
“Over the past few days, more than 100 AFP officers have been working tirelessly across Victoria to disrupt this syndicate,” Detective Superintendent Burnage said.
“Any syndicate that can arrange an importation such as this has significant resources and reach, and the loss of 300 kilograms of narcotics is definitely not what they were hoping for. As a result of this seizure, these drugs will not make it to our streets and cause further damage to our community.”
The three Vietnamese nationals – a 23-year-old, a 24-year-old and a 25-year-old – have all been charged with importing commercial quantities of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth)
