Two people have been arrested in Sydney and Melbourne for their alleged role in the importation of approximately 154 kilograms of methamphetamine.
A joint investigation led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) commenced in June after a sea cargo consignment from Africa containing 121 timber logs arrived in Sydney. Australian Border Force (ABF) officers examined the consignment, and detected anomalies in 14 of the timber logs.
A forensic examination of the consignment by AFP officers revealed approximately 154kgs of methamphetamine in total. This amount of methamphetamine has an approximate street value of $115 million.
Late last month, the AFP monitored the delivery of the consignment from Sydney to two addresses in Sunshine.
Yesterday, simultaneous search warrants were conducted in Sydney and Melbourne. A 64-year-old Werrington man was arrested in Sydney and a 20-year-old Moonee Ponds man was arrested in Melbourne.
The 64-year-old was charged with:
- one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to Section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to Section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The 20-year-old was charged with:
- one count of attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to Section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to Section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.
AFP Commander John Beveridge, State Manager Victoria, said the AFP and its partners would continue to target organised criminal syndicates who attempted to peddle illicit drugs in Australia.
“This operation successfully blocked more than a million ‘hits’ of methamphetamine before they could reach our streets,” Commander Beveridge said.
“Organised criminal syndicates will continue to target the lucrative Australian market while ever there is a demand for illicit drugs. The capabilities of Australian law enforcement, intelligence, and border protection agencies has never been stronger, and our efforts to disrupt the supply of these illicit drugs will continue without apology.”
ABF Regional Commander VIC/TAS James Watson said that this operation is a clear example of how Australia’s law enforcement agencies are working together to prevent crimes that pose real danger to our communities.
“Our inter-agency approach to collaboration and intelligence sharing has created a very challenging environment for organised crime syndicates to operate in,” Regional Commander Watson said.
“Methamphetamine poses a real threat to the health and safety of the Australian community and the ABF is committed to stamping out this kind of criminal activity at our border.”
Note: The estimated street value of this seizure has been calculated according to the Victorian median drug price for the specific drug as listed in the latest Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Illicit Drug Data Report (www.acic.gov.au). The final total is expressed as if the seizure would have been broken up at its current level of purity and sold at the end of the supply chain in individual street dosage units.
credit: abf.gov.au & dailymail.uk
