A 29-year-old man is appearing before court today (Friday 19 August) after being charged for allegedly importing 210kg of methamphetamine, which has an estimated street value of $210 million.
Investigations commenced in June after an air freight consignment of 15 boxes arrived in Sydney from Taiwan, labelled as ‘women’s jeans’.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers conducted an examination of the consignment after noticing anomalies within 12 of the boxes and found plastic bags containing a crystalline substance. A presumptive testing of the substance tested positive to the presence of methamphetamine.
The matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and an investigation was initiated. Subsequent forensic examination of the consignment by AFP officers confirmed the substance to be methamphetamine with an approximate weight of 210 kilograms.
Following a two-month investigation, the AFP arrested a 29-year-old Bexley North man yesterday (18 August 2016).
He was charged with importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 301.1(1) Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
In July, the AFP also arrested a 24-year-old Blacktown man in relation to this investigation.
AFP Manager Crime Operations Roger Brown said this investigation stopped more than 2.1 million ‘hits’ of methamphetamine from reaching the community.
“This was a complex investigation resulting in the arrest of two alleged offenders, and it shows just how committed law enforcement agencies are to stopping these drugs from ending up in our community,” Commander Brown said.
ABF Regional Commander NSW Tim Fitzgerald said the ABF is resolute in its commitment to stemming the flow of this illegal and dangerous drug into the Australia.
“This seizure is yet another example of the ABF’s success in targeting large shipments of methamphetamine arriving in air and sea cargo,” Commander Fitzgerald said.
“A detection of this size by the ABF has a direct benefit to the community by stopping this evil product reaching the streets.”
The man is due to appear in Sydney Central Local Court Friday 19 August 2016. The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.
