Neither bushfire smoke nor fear of coronavirus deters one sort of tourist – the drug smuggler – with the Australian Border Force kept busy in recent days making drug seizures on all fronts. The drug of choice would appear to be methamphetamine, sometimes known as crystal meth or ice.
A Canadian man appeared in court over the Australia Day long weekend, charged over an alleged importation of illicit drugs on Saturday (25 January 2020).
On Saturday evening, Australian Border Force (ABF) officers stopped a 31-year-old Canadian man at Sydney International Airport, who had arrived on board a flight from Istanbul via Doha. His suitcase was examined by ABF officers, where a white substance was discovered in the lining.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers arrested the man and will allege in court that around two kilograms of methamphetamine was detected inside the lining of the suitcase. The exact weight and purity will be the subject of further forensic testing.
The man appeared before Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday (26 January 2020) and was remanded in custody to reappear before Sydney Central Local Court on 5 March 2020.
The man has been charged with importing and possessing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled substance, contrary to section 307.5 (1) and section 307.1(1) of the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995. The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.
MEANWHILE, in an apparently unconnected case, detectives have charged a man with drug supply as part of ongoing investigations into the alleged importation of nearly $100 million worth of methylamphetamine concealed in a one tonne machinery item.
In February 2019, the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission established Strike Force Redgurnard to investigate the importation and supply of illicit drugs into NSW.
Acting on information from the NSW Police Force, Australian Border Force (ABF) officers targeted an air cargo consignment which had arrived at a Sydney freight depot from Central America in December 2019.
2kg of meth seized at Sydney airport. (Photo supplied by Australian Border Force)
The consignment, which was declared to contain a large machinery item, was examined by ABF officers who noted inconsistencies.
During a subsequent deconstruction, it was found to contain 130kg of a white crystalline substance concealed within the item.
The substance was tested and returned a presumptive positive result for methylamphetamine, which has an estimated potential street value of $97.5 million.
Strike Force Redgurnard investigators, with assistance from the Australian Federal Police and ABF, seized the consignment and conducted a controlled delivery.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives executed two search warrants at a unit at Yagoona and an industrial unit at Condell Park about 7am today (Thursday 30 January 2020).
During the search warrants, police seized documents, power tools and other items relevant to the investigation.
A 26-year-old man was arrested at Yagoona and taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).
Police will allege in court that the man accessed the consignment at Condell Park.
He was refused bail and was to appear at Bankstown Local Court just before the weekend (Friday 31 January 2020).
Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman, said investigations are ongoing to target those responsible for the importation.
“The Organised Crime Squad and the entire NSW Police Force is focused on working with our partners to target the criminal networks who import, manufacture and supply illicit drugs,” Det Supt Fileman said.
“We have disrupted the activities of this syndicate and we will not stop with this arrest.”
ABF Regional Commander for NSW Danielle Yannopoulos says seizures like this show the ABF’s commitment to keeping illicit substances out of Australia.
“Every day, the ABF is working with its law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those involved in attempting to import this life destroying drug into Australia,” Commander Yannopoulos said
“This result should serve as a warning to criminal groups – think twice about trying to smuggle drugs into Australia, because no matter how you try to conceal them, we will find them.”
Investigations under Strike Force Redgurnard are continuing.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Redgurnard investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
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