Two men from Sydney and Melbourne have been charged in relation to a failed importation of 115kg of methamphetamine into Melbourne, with the illicit drugs concealed inside jars of pickles.
Another man has also been arrested in British Columbia, Canada, by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Federal Policing Pacific Region Drugs and Organised Crime Unit as part of a joint AFP and RCMP investigation under the codename Operation Prythian.
Investigators allegedly identified the two Australian-based men as being involved in importing illicit drugs from Canada to Australia, with a shipment bound for Australia - allegedly associated with them - identified by Canadian authorities in January, 2026.
The RCMP identified the outbound shipment and it was intercepted with the assistance of Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA). During the search, officers found a white, crystalline substance concealed in jars of pickles.
Forensic analysis of the substance confirmed it as methamphetamine, with a total weight of about 115kg.
This amount of methamphetamine has an estimated Australian street value of AUD$106.3 million, and the potential to equate to 1.15 million street-level deals.
The illicit drugs were substituted in Canada with an inert substance that was placed into the jars.
The shipment arrived in Melbourne on 4 March, 2026, where officers from Australian Border Force identified the shipment before it was delivered to an address in Campbellfield, Victoria, on 17 March, 2026.
The two Australian-based men were arrested on 17 March, 2026, after simultaneous warrants were executed at a residence in Baxter, Victoria, and a residence in the Sydney suburb of Croydon Park, NSW.
As a result of the Croydon Park warrant, police seized items suspected as being the proceeds of crime, including about $400,000 cash, eight 1kg silver bars, a Ford Mustang, jewellery, watches, as well as electronic devices and other drug paraphernalia.
The 63-year-old man from Baxter, Victoria, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on 18 March, 2026, charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, contrary to section 307.5 (by virtue of section 11.1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The 40-year-old man from Croydon Park, NSW was extradited from NSW and faced Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 25 March, 2026.
He has been charged with:
- One count of attempting to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, contrary to section 307.1 (by virtue of section 11.1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995; and
- One count of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, contrary to section 307.1 (by virtue of section 11.5) of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
These offences each carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Both men have been remanded in custody and will face Melbourne Magistrates' Court at later dates - the Victorian man on 20 June, 2026, and the NSW man on 9 July, 2026.
AFP acting Commander Simone Butcher said international drug trafficking operations remained a key priority for the AFP and global partners.
"This operation is yet another example of the AFP working closely with our international law enforcement partners to protect Australian communities from the scourge of illicit drugs," acting Commander Butcher said.
"This is a significant seizure, capable of facilitating more than one million street level deals. Ensuring these drugs did not find their way into the Australian community has no doubt saved countless lives.
"Crime can be borderless when observed on an international scale, which is why the AFP works so closely with agencies such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Border Service Agency to target and disrupt transnational crime before it can do harm, whether here or abroad."
Superintendent Tim Arseneault, Acting Deputy Regional Commander, RCMP Federal Policing Pacific Region, added this operation is a powerful example of what we can achieve when countries work closely together with a common purpose.
"It sends a clear message: criminal networks that exploit international borders will be met with an international response. Our commitment to working alongside our global partners to dismantle these networks and protect communities everywhere remains stronger than ever."
