DETECTIVES have charged a man with drug supply as part of investigations into the alleged importation of nearly $100m worth of methylamphetamine concealed in a one tonne piece of machinery.
Australian Border Force officers targeted an air cargo consignment which had arrived at a Sydney freight depot from Central America in December 2019.
When taken apart, the piece of machinery was found to contain 130kg of a white crystalline substance which returned a presumptive positive result for methylamphetamine.
Investigators, with hellp from the Australian Federal Police and ABF, seized the consignment and conducted a controlled delivery.
Detectives later raided a unit at Yagoona and an industrial unit at Condell Park about 7am on Thursday 30 January 2020.
Police seized documents, power tools and other items.
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 the man accessed the consignment at Condell Park.
He was denied bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court.
Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman, said investigations are targeting 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 said such seizures showed the ABF’s commitment to keeping illicit substances out of Australia.
“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.
