A MALAYSIAN national has been charged for his alleged role in a transnational trafficking plot to import 100 kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia hidden inside electronics equipment.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested the man, aged 45, after an investigation began when Australian Border Force (ABF) officers found the illicit drugs in an air cargo consignment which arrived from Malaysia in mid-October.
ABF officers examined the consignment and located blocks of a white substance weighing approximately 100kg in total, concealed in computer towers, which returned a presumptive positive result for meth.
Officers removed the drugs before the consignment was released and delivered to a storage unit in Kingsgrove, NSW where the man allegedly took possession of the electronic goods.
He was then subsequently arrested by the AFP and charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs. The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
AFP acting superintendent Stuart Millen said the AFP worked closely with ABF and other partners to combat the illicit drug trade.
“This amount of methamphetamine could have been sold as about one million street level deals,” Mr Millen said, “It would have caused widespread harm, with the negative impact felt in domestic violence, in our hospitals and the road toll”.
ABF acting commander Matthew O’Connor said criminal syndicates continued to look for alternative concealment methods and avenues to attempt to import drugs into the country.
“ABF officers monitor consignments closely for any anomalies to disrupt these criminal syndicates’ supply chains,” he said.
“They will attempt to hide illicit substances in creative cavities to evade our detection.
“Our officers’ skills in detecting and disrupting this criminal behavior will continue to thrive through our collaboration and information sharing between our federal and state counterparts.”
