Methamphetamine worth $65 million seized in Sydney
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Methamphetamine worth $65 million seized in Sydney

A Malaysian national and a Hong Kong national were charged with serious drug offences in Sydney for their involvement in the importation of 100 kilograms of methamphetamine. This was the result of a joint operation of The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS). The estimated street value of 100 kilograms of methamphetamine is approximately $65 million.

In February ACBPS officers at the Sydney Container Examination Facility identified and examined  a container from China declared to be “Kids toys”. During the course of detailed investigation, ACBPS officers located a false floor in the container which concealed a hidden compartment. The hidden compartment contained 100 kilograms of a white crystallised substance.

On chemical analysis and testing the substance proved to be methamphetamine. Methamphetamine – meth for short – is a very addictive stimulant drug. It is a powder that can be made into a pill or a shiny rock (called a crystal). The powder can be eaten or snorted up the nose. It can also be mixed with liquid and injected into your body with a needle. Role of any Sydney custom broker in this case is not known.

On the basis of this finding, AFP and ACBPS officers conducted a controlled delivery to an address in Prestons, NSW. This was followed by the arrest of a 30-year-old Hong Kong national and a 37-year-old Malaysian national in a car park in Prestons.

According to Arthur Moerman, AFP Acting Manager Serious and Organised Crime, success of this investigation is an example of Australian law enforcement agencies cooperating effectively to target illicit drug importations.

Tim Fitzgerald, ACBPS Regional Commander NSW said Australia’s law enforcement agencies are working together to protect the Australian community from harmful substances. The seizure and resulting arrests prevented the production and distribution of a significant quantity of methamphetamines.

The charges on the men involved are importation of a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, attempt to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drug, and aid and abet the importation of a border controlled drug.

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Men lodged in a correctional facility arrested for drug import

In a major multi-agency investigation on drug importation, five men staying in a correction facility were arrested. Arrest for attempted importation of approximately three kilograms of methamphetamine into Western Australia.

Men who were arrested for the alleged importation were a 64-year-old man in a correctional facility in Walpole, a 40-year-old man from Westminster, a 38-year-old man from Westminster and a 56-year-old Malaysian national currently residing in Butler.

Charges raised against the 38-year-old man from Westminster was possession of heroin, methylamphtamine, cannabis and drug paraphernalia. The  28-year-old Westminster man was charged for state-based offences for the possession of a prohibited drug with the intent to sell and supply. The involvement of the 64-year-old man was attempting to facilitate the importation of drugs from an overseas drug syndicate while incarcerated in a Walpole correctional facility. He is also charged for attempting to organize the drugs to be sent to various addresses and contacts in Western Australia.

Investigation and arrest of these men was the outcome of a joint team work of Australian Federal Police (AFP), Western Australia Police Service (WAPol), Department of Corrective Services Western Australia (DCS), Australian Crime Commission (ACC), Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC).

In addition three people were arrested in Taiwan in this connection. Taiwanese National Police Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) arrested a 40-year-old syndicate member. They charged him for attempting to send approximately two kilograms of ketamine to the United Kingdom. The CIB also arrested a 30-year-old syndicate member and his 24-year-old partner for attempting to send a three-kilogram package of methamphetamine into Perth.  No Perth based custom broker is known to be connected with this drug syndicate.

Taiwanese Police worked with Australian authorities regarding its delivery into Perth. The AFP and WA Police conducted a controlled delivery of the package to a residential address in Butler. Following this search warrants were conducted in Butler, Walpole, Westminster and Ballajura. This resulted in identifying the men involved and subsequent arrest.

Drugs worth $1.5 billion concealed in furniture seized
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Drugs worth $1.5 billion concealed in furniture seized

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service officers at the NSW Container Examination Facility intercepted a consignment marked furniture and another set of unmarked boxes. The consignment was found to contain MDMA and crystal methamphetamine.

In this connection, six men were charged by the Joint Organised Crime Group (JOCG) for their involvement in the attempted importation of three tonnes of MDMA and crystal methamphetamine (ice) into Sydney. The street value of the drugs seized is estimated to be around $1.5. Though the quantity of drugs seized is the second largest in recent past no name of any Sydney custom broker is mentioned.

The consignment with 2 tonnes of MDMA and 800kgs of methamphetamine was shipped to Australia from Germany. On the basis of the information gathered by the investigating team, police conducted a controlled delivery of the consignment to an address in Blacktown where its contents were removed and transported to another location. Six men were arrested when found accessing the boxes from the consignment at an address in Smithfield. All arrested men are Australian residents in the age group of 23 to 34.

According to Andrew Colvin, AFP Commissioner, agencies are working together harder than ever to stop drugs from entering our country. Working together as a part of the Joint Organised Crime Group, this seizure represents the second largest in Australian history and is worth up to $1.5 billion. Success of this also shows another success for law enforcement agencies in halting illicit drugs bound for Australia.

Charge raised against accused is that of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. This charge can attract a possible penalty of life imprisonment. Law enforcement agencies coming together in The JOCG are the Australian Federal Police, the NSW Police Force, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, NSW Crime Commission and the Australian Crime Commission.

Seven kilos of meth hidden in printer cartridges seized
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Seven kilos of meth hidden in printer cartridges seized

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) in a joint operation with Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) charged a 27-year-old Hong Kong national in Melbourne for importing approximately seven kilograms of methamphetamine.

Investigation in this case started when Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) at the Sydney Air Cargo facility got suspicious of a consignment of three boxes labelled to contain printer cartridges. On further investigation of the consignment, it was found that the cartridges contained a white powder instead of toner.

Further, the team intercepted an additional similar package. Here also investigator the package contained a white powder. Another interesting observation was that all four boxes were addressed to the same recipient. Chemical testing and analysis confirmed that the powder was methamphetamine. It is not known if any Sydney customs broker is involved in this case.

Members of the team, the The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS), started work to identify recipients of the package. For this they conducted a controlled delivery of the four boxes to an address in the Melbourne CBD.

The packages were received by a 27-year-old female Hong Kong national. She was subsequently arrested following her receipt and access of the packages. The lady was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine contrary to subsection 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). She was also charged for  attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to subsection 307.5(1), of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.

According to Scott Lee, AFP Manager Serious and Organised Crime, parcel post is an avenue of drug importation. The law enforcement agencies know this and are committed to targeting importations of illicit substances through all channels. He also said that this arrest is yet another example of Australian law enforcement agencies sharing information, intelligence and resources to bring criminals to account.

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Eight men charged – drugs and fire arms seized in joint action of police forces

Members of an organised crime syndicate importing drug precursor into Australia and exporting firearms into Papua New Guinea were charged for these offences.  This was the result of a joint investigation of The Australian Federal Police (AFP), Queensland Police Service (QPS) and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS). It is also alleged that the syndicate has links to two large-scale cannabis plantations in Northern Queensland.

Ten liters of Phenyl-2-Propanone (P2P) has been seized in the operation and eight people have been charged with various offences. P2P is a precursor used to manufacture drugs such as methamphetamine or ‘ice’. The P2P seized can be used to produce approximately 9.8 kilograms of methamphetamine. The street value of the same is estimated at $2.5 million dollars.

Following the discovery of a large cannabis plantation in a remote location near Herberton in Northern Queensland, AFP and QPS arrested four people. Execution of search warrants resulted in the seizure of approximately 920 plants. On the basis of these findings two men aged 46 and 45 and two women  aged 55 and 25 were charged with state drug offences. The AFP with assistance from QPS and ACBPS also seized seven liters of P2P imported to Australia from Papua New Guinea.

AFP along with QPS and ACBPS executed 10 search warrants in Cairns, Herberton, Bamaga and Badu Island (Torres Strait) and recovered three liters of P2P and charged five men as follows. The 45-year-old Herberton man was charged for importing marketable quantity of border controlled precursor. A 39-year-old Bamaga man was charged with importing marketable quantity border controlled precursor.

A 32-year-old Badu Island man was charged with import of a commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor. A 38-year-old Badu Island man was charged with one count of pre-trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled precursors. A 29-year-old Cairns man was charged with aiding and abetting pre-trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled precursors. The offences charged on the accused can attract a maximum fine of up to $850,000 and or 25 years in prison.

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Joint operation arrest six and confiscate 90 kilograms of methamphetamine

 

Multi agency investigation involving Australian Federal Police (AFP) Western Australia Police (WAPOL), the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) ended up in the arrest of six people and seizure of 90 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Investigation started with information on a South-East Asian-based syndicate sending members to Australia for importation and trafficking of crystal methamphetamine. Following this was seizure of 117kgs of crystal methamphetamine made in an inner-city Melbourne apartment. Four Taiwanese nationals were arrested and charged with offences relating to the possession of crystal methamphetamine.

In continuation three search warrants were executed in the suburbs of Queens Park and Cloverdale in Western Australia. As a result approximately 90 kilograms of methamphetamine was seized. Along with this  85 kilograms of a substance believed to be methamphetamine were located in an apartment in Queens Park. For trafficking drugs three male Taiwanese nationals aged 25, 24, 20-year-old were arrested.

In addition five kilograms of methamphetamine was  seized during in Cloverdale. For possession of  a prohibited drug with intent to sell or supply three male Taiwanese nationals aged 25, two aged 27 were each charged. The charges put together can attract a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Involvement of any Sydney customs broker in this importation is not immediately available.

According to Commander Rippon, this multi-agency operation has disrupted a serious and organised crime syndicate operating within Australia. This is also a testament to our combined determination to target and disrupt syndicates involved in the drug trade in Australia.

In addition, this seizure will reduce social damage to the community on account of the large amount of the addictive drug reaching the people Western Australia. According to reliable sources 90 kilogram of methamphetamine could have resulted in 900,000 street deals of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $63 million.

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Methamphetamine concealed in audio equipment seized

Routine x-ray of a consignment revealed anomalies in a consignment at the Brisbane International Mail Facility.  Following this, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) officers selected two packages for examination. During examination they found methamphetamine concealed in audio equipment. Two Chinese men aged 23 and 25 were charged and arrested in this connection.

Officers of ACBPS found car power amplifiers with bags of a suspicious white crystalline substance. This was hidden in the place where the circuit boards should have been. Chemical tests and analysis showed that the white powder was approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine.

The case was subsequently transferred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for further investigation and follow up. Following this AFP conducted a controlled delivery to the South Brisbane Post Office. Two Chinese men came to collect the packages and were arrested. Involvement of any Brisbane based customs broker is not made available by the investigation team.

Search was conducted in a residence in Southport on the Gold Coast and found empty boxes of amplifiers. This was almost similar to the packages intercepted by ACBPS. Here also the investigating officers found clip-seal plastic bags containing traces of a crystalline substance, electronic scales and two metal bowls containing traces of a crystalline substance.

The two men arrested charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drug contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) and one count of importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drug contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). For the charges made against the accused, maximum penalty is life imprisonment and or 7,500 penalty units.

According to Dr Ben Evans, ACBPS Regional Commander Queensland, Customs and Border Protection is committed to stopping illegal drugs reaching our streets. Highly trained officers have the intelligence, technology and expertise to stop these shipments at the border.

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AFP arrest man with 98.80 kilograms of cocaine

 

 

A 38-year-old Bradbury man was charged by The Australian Federal Police (AFP) for attempting to import a total of 98.8 kilograms of cocaine into Australia. The investigation in this case was initiated after the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) Officers intercepted two kite board bags. These bags had a total of 74.8 kilograms of cocaine.

The ACBPS officers intercepted the bags before they entered the designated baggage carousel of the Sydney International Airport terminal. It was found that a Sydney Airport maintenance worker was waiting for the arrival of the two board bags in the designated baggage terminal.

This led to additional investigation by AFP members. The officers found out that the same man removed a similar package. The baggage, a golf bag is believed to contain 24 kilograms of cocaine. According to  trade estimates, the total street value of the drugs is $18.96 million. Involvement of any Sydney customs broker in this case is unlikely since this is a clear case of smuggling.

Cocaine, also known as coke, is commonly snorted, inhaled as smoke, or dissolved and injected into a vein. It is the second most frequently used illegal drug globally, after cannabis. Cocaine is addictive due to its effect on the reward pathway in the brain. What is sold on the street is commonly mixed with local anesthetics, cornstarch, quinine, or sugar, which can result in additional toxicity.

Wayne Buchhorn, AFP Sydney Airport Police Commander said the seizure of cocaine and subsequent arrest is the culmination of a fool proof investigation. The whole process received active support and cooperation from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, the Sydney Airport Corporation and other organisations working  the airport.

According to Tim Fitzgerald, ACBPS Regional Commander NSW the success in this case shows the dedication and ongoing hard work of Customs and Border Protection officers. These efforts will control movement of illegal substances into the country.

The charge levelled against the  38-year-old is of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine, pursuant to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth.) by virtue of Conspiracy, pursuant to section 11.5(1) of the Criminal Code 1995.

Importing methamphetamine in frozen fish fillets, two men charged
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Importing methamphetamine in frozen fish fillets, two men charged

Joint Organised Crime Group (JOCG) confiscated 88 kilograms of heroin and 21 kilograms of methamphetamine in frozen fish fillets. In this connection two men have been charged with drug offences.

The Joint Organised Crime Group-JOCG includes members from the NSW Police Force (NSWPF), Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS), NSW Crime Commission (NSWCC) and the Australian Crime Commission (ACC).

On the basis of intelligence provided by ACBPS, investigation started when a 57-year-old Vietnamese/Canadian national arrived in Australia. Later the ACBPS officers intercepted a consignment from Kuala Lumpur linked to the suspect containing three pallets of white polystyrene boxes containing frozen fish.

Preliminary investigation showed ice packs contained an assortment of clear and brown liquids hidden beneath frozen fish. On testing by the ACBPS officers, it was found that the brown liquid contained heroin and the clear liquid contained methamphetamine. No Sydney customs brokers name is associated with this importation.

In September JOCG started controlled investigation and contents of the consignment were substituted with an inert substance. The two accused in the case allegedly accessed the consignment and removed the contents of the polystyrene boxes.

This was followed up in September with two search warrants in Fairfield. A number of items including a makeshift heavy duty press, which can be used to compress bricks of heroin were recovered. In this connection two dual Canadian-Vietnamese nationals were arrested and charged.

According to Ramzi Jabbour, AFP National Manager Serious and Organised Crime, AFP will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to ensure illicit drugs do not reach the streets of Australia. AFP and along with partner organisations will ensure the safety of the Australian community by stopping organised crime groups attempting to import illicit substances.

Though there can be variations on the basis of purity, 88 kilograms of heroin can be converted to 780,000 street deals. The street value of this consignment can be $54 million dollars. Seizure of 21kg of methamphetamine, a very dangerous drugs along with the heroin is a major success for the Joint Organised Crime Group (JOCG).

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Methamphetamine concealed in porcelain toilets seized

From a consignment of 70 boxes of porcelain toilets at the Melbourne Container Examination Facility, law enforcement agencies seized 50 kilograms of methamphetamine. This was the result of a joint operation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS), Australian Crime Commission (ACC) and Victoria Police.

The 50 kilograms of methamphetamine seized can be converted into approximately 500,000 street deals. The estimated street value is approximately AUD $50 million. A Melbourne man was arrested in this connection. Police allege that the 33-year-old Kings Park man was responsible for facilitating the importation of the methamphetamine.

Investigation started in July 2014 and ACBPS officers intercepted and x-rayed a consignment of 70 boxes of porcelain toilets at the Melbourne Container Examination Facility. In the examination that followed, 17 packages of a crystalline substance was found in two boxes. The packets weighted approximately three kilograms and testing proved the substance was methamphetamine. The Taskforce did not reveal identity of any Sydney Customs Broker related to this case.

Following this, Joint Organised Crime Taskforce (JOCTF), established to target organised crime operating in Victoria, took charge of the investigation.  The Taskforce allege that the methamphetamine were moved to the 33-year-old man’s mother’s Kings Park residence and the 33-year-old man was arrested at Southbank following the JOCTF investigation.

In addition to this, AFP and Victoria Police executed search warrants on six premises in Kings Park, Taylors Hill, Southbank, South Melbourne and Tullamarine. They seized approximately $70,000 cash and three casino chips valued at $1000 each.

The arrested 33-year-old man will be charged by the AFP for the following offences. Importing a commercial quantity border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to subsection 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code(Cth). Attempting to possess commercial quantities of border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to sections 307.5 and 11.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The accused can get a maximum penalty of life imprisonment for the offences charged.