A MAN has been charged after he collected a consignment of drugs from a freight forwarding company in Botany.
The Sydney man allegedly imported 137 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in commercial floor scrubbers.
The Australian Federal Police launched an investigation on 4 January after learning 54 kilograms of meth was found concealed in floor scrubbers in the United States.
US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) informed the AFP the shipment was destined for businesses in Castle Hill.
Then, on 23 January, US authorities intercepted a second consignment containing about 57 kilograms of meth concealed in floor scrubbers. The package was addressed to a business in Girrawen.
And on 21 February, US authorities intercepted a third consignment of around 26 kilograms of meth, also concealed in floor scrubbers, addressed to another Sydney business, in Ramsgate.
Once US authorities seized the drugs from all seven floor scrubbers, the consignments were progressed for delivery to Australia.
When the shipments reached Australia, AFP investigators, with help from the Australian Border Force, loaded the floor scrubbers with inert packages to replicate the seized drugs.
On 9 March, the AFP monitored a consignment as it was collected from a freight forwarding company in Botany.
Police alleged a Randwick man, 38, used false identification to collect the delivery in a van with stolen number plates.
He drove to a Mascot apartment, where police believe he unloaded some of the substituted drugs and hid the remaining packages in a van for delivery to customers across Sydney.
Police executed search warrants in Randwick, Bexley and Mascot, where the man was arrested.
Officers also found counter surveillance devices they believe were used to obstruct AFP operations.
Superintendent Narelle Mitchell said the AFP has a strong co-operation with partner law enforcement agencies in Australia and overseas.
“Transnational organised crime is serious business, and the AFP is equipped to win the fight with members located across the globe working together with our international partners,” Supt Mitchell said.
US HSI Attaché Ernest Verina commended the agents, detectives and investigators whose “outstanding international efforts and collaboration” led to the arrest.
“HSI and our international partners will never waiver in our commitment to stopping the flow of dangerous drugs from impacting neighbourhoods and communities.
“Each arrest, each seizure is saving lives and decreases the additional crime that arises from transnational criminal organisations.”
The Randwick man was charged with importing and attempting to possess a marketable quantity of border-controlled drugs. The maximum penalty for his offences is life imprisonment.
He was scheduled for face Sydney Downing Centre on Friday, 5 May.
