Woah, everyone has been involved in this drug seizure!
The Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Customs and Border Protection Services (ACBPS) the NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC) and the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) have all joined hands under the banner of the Joint Organised Crime Group (JOCG) to arrest two men over the importation of border controlled drugs.
The operation began in early September when a 57 year old Vietnamese / Canadian national entered Australia and was identified as a result of Australian Customs and Border Protection Services intelligence gathering. It was on the 8th September that a shipment arriving into Sydney from Malaysia was linked to the suspect.
The shipment consisted of three pallets of white polystyrene boxes that all contained frozen fish. Preliminary examination of the consignment revealed that there were ice packs hidden underneath the frozen fish.
Some of the ice packs contained a brown liquid, with others containing a clear liquid. ACBPS officers tested the liquids, with the brown liquid indicating a positive result for the presence of heroin. The clear liquid tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.
With the drugs being replaced by an inert substance, the shipment was then accessed by the two men charged. On the 11th September, the AFP and NSW police carried out search warrants in Fairfield. A number of suspicious items were located.
Two dual Canadian-Vietnamese nationals have been arrested and charged with the following offenses:
The 57-year-old man was charged with the following offenses:
- One count of attempt to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely heroin, contrary to Section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 by virtue of section 11.1;
- One count of attempt to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to Section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 by virtue of section 11.1;
- One count of import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely heroin, contrary to Section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995;
- One count of import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to Section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The 55-year-old man was charged with the following offenses:
- One count of attempt to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely heroin, contrary to Section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 by virtue of section 11.1;
- One count of attempt to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to Section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 by virtue of section 11.1.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said organised crime groups are motivated purely by greed and self-interest.
“Organised crime groups prey on the vulnerable and leech from the law-abiding majority,” Commissioner Scipione said.
“We make no apologies for relentlessly hunting down those who shamelessly enhance their own lives by ruthlessly destroying others.
The Australian has shown some great footage of the arrests, head here.
The approx total value of the seizure is AUD75 million.
Source and image credits: customs.gov.au
