An East Melbourne man is expected to appear in Sydney Downing Center Local Court today (18 December 2024) charged with attempting to possess 12kg of methamphetamine imported into NSW from the US.
The AFP investigation began in September 2024 after officers from the Australian Border Force (ABF) discovered a shipment allegedly containing more than $11 million worth of methamphetamine labeled as hospital sheets.
The man, 20, was arrested by AFP officers on October 24, 2024, when he allegedly attempted to collect the parcel from an address in Padstow, NSW.
He was charged with:
- Attempt to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 307.5(1) read with section 11.1(1), of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offense is life imprisonment; and
- Possessing identifying information and intending to use the information to engage in conduct that constitutes an offence, contrary to section 372.2(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offense is three years in prison.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Emmanuel Tsardoulias said drug trafficking syndicates would try a variety of methods to smuggle illegal drugs into Australia because of the profits they could make.
“The devastating impact methamphetamine has on individuals and their families is well known – that’s why the AFP and our law enforcement partners are determined to stop this drug from reaching our community whenever we can,” Det A/Supt Tsardoulias said.
“This amount could have accounted for around 120,000 individual hits if it had reached Australian streets.”
ABF superintendent Asha Patwardhan said that ABF officials were always alert to detect discrepancies in consignments.
“The detection capability of ABF officers at all points of entry into Australia – whether by air, sea or mail – continues to disrupt the importation of illicit drugs,” Supt Patwardhan said.
“Technology, officer intuition and shared intelligence are all key components that support investigation and court processes, as ABF officers work alongside our partner agencies on a daily basis to stop this insidious drug from crossing our borders.”
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