Following a two-month investigation, the AFP arrested a 29-year-old Bexley North man allegedly importing 210 kg of methamphetamine. The material seized is estimated to have a street value of $210 million. AFP officers started investigations after an air freight consignment of 15 boxes arrived in Sydney from Taiwan, labelled as ‘women’s jeans’. Official agencies have not confirmed involvement of any Sydney customs broker in the documentation and processing of this consignment.
After noticing anomalies within 12 of the boxes Australian Border Force (ABF) officers conducted an examination of the consignment labelled as jeans. They found that there were plastic bags in the boxes containing a crystalline substance. On conducting mandatory testing, the crystalline substance tested positive to the presence of methamphetamine.
On the basis of these findings, the matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for further investigation and necessary action. Following this, required forensic examination as required by the law was conducted by AFP officers. Chemical analysis that followed confirmed the substance to be methamphetamine with an approximate weight of 210 kilograms.
The 29-year-old Bexley North man arrested was charged with importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 301.1(1) Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug usually used as a white, bitter-tasting powder or a pill. Crystal methamphetamine is a form of the drug that looks like glass fragments or shiny, bluish-white rocks. It is chemically similar to amphetamine. AFP also arrested a 24-year-old Blacktown man in connection to this investigation. Once convicted, the accused can get maximum penalty up to life imprisonment for this offence.
Roger Brown, AFP Manager Crime Operations said this investigation and subsequent action kept the drug from reaching the streets. The seized material could be converted to more than 2.1 million ‘hits’ of methamphetamine from reaching the community. This well planned investigation is an example of the commitment of law enforcement agencies to stop these drugs from ending up in Australia.
