FOUR people have been arrested following the seizure of 50 kilograms of pseudoephedrine imported into Melbourne via airfreight.
The Victoria Police and the Australian Border Force launched a joint investigation after the border-controlled precursor chemical was found concealed within a consignment imported from India.
The consignment was identified on 23 September. Victoria Police detectives and ABF officers executed warrants at two addresses in Melbourne on 29 September.
Along with the shipment of pseudoephedrine, police also seized an additional two kilograms of pseudoephedrine concealed in rolling pins, one kilogram of methylamphetamine as well as records pertaining to drug importation.
The ABF said a seizure this size could have been used to manufacture an estimated 37 kilograms of methylamphetamine.
Detectives arrested two men at Melbourne Airport on 29 September attempting to leave the country. They had around $20,000 cash between them.
Inspector James Judge, ABF Investigations VICT/TAS, said the recent incident was “sadly” one of many attempts to bring border-controlled drugs and precursors into Australia that the ABF has intercepted this year.
“Our highly trained officers have significant skill and technological capability when it comes to detecting drugs at the border,” he said.
“We are alert to the different ways criminals try to conceal and move their drugs, and those considering bringing drugs into Australia would do well to remember that – or face the consequences.
“In addition to the harm illicit drug use causes directly to individuals, there are devastating social impacts on families, and significant health-care system costs.
“We continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to stop these drugs reaching our communities where they can cause so much damage.”
Detective Inspector Anthony Vella of the Clandestine Laboratory Squad said the arrests should serve as a “sobering reminder” that police will target those facilitating the manufacture of illicit drugs.
“There may be a perception drugs can be easily concealed, however we have seen time and time again the ability of police and the Australian Border Force to detect and seize these substances,” he said.
“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target those involved in the manufacture and trafficking of illicit drugs and hold them to account.”
Two men from Clyde, Melbourne were charged for trafficking a large commercial quantity for the precursor.
The duo has been remanded in custody and will next appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 19 January 2023.
A 26-year-old man from Cranbourne East was released and is expected to be charged on summons, and a 40-year-old man from Dandenong was released pending further enquiries.
