A man contracted to deliver mail on Sydney's Northern Beaches will face court today after being charged following investigations into the attempted importation of illicit drugs.
In October 2020, Australian Border Force (ABF) officers inspected two packages which arrived in Sydney via air cargo from Mexico.
Both packages – which were declared to contain handbags – were x-rayed, and after ABF officers noted inconsistencies, they were deconstructed and inspected further.
The bags were all found to have false bottoms, with each concealing another bag containing a crystalline-like substance, which was tested and returned a presumptive positive result for methylamphetamine (ice).
The matter was referred to the NSW Police Force and a total of about 2.3kg of ice was seized. Detectives from Northern Beaches Police Area Command established Strike Force Pulleine to investigate the import.
During the investigation, a third package from The Netherlands and addressed a home on the Northern Beaches, was intercepted by ABF officers at the Sydney Gateway Facility.
It was also found to contain 1kg of ice, which was concealed in the soles of dozens of pairs of thongs. The package was then seized by strike force investigators.
Following extensive inquiries, a 32-year-old man was arrested by investigators on Clifford Street, Fairlight, about 11am yesterday (Wednesday 4 November 2020).
Just before 5pm, police stopped a Honda Odyssey on Endeavour Street, Chatswood, and during a search of the vehicle, officers seized electronic scales, a computer and postal contractor identification.
A short time later, investigators executed a search warrant at a home at Artarmon, where they seized an electronic control device, laptops, a hard drive and electronic storage devices, Bitcoin documentation, drug paraphernalia consistent with supply, and a digital money counter.
Those items will also undergo forensic examinations.
The 32-year-old Artarmon man was arrested and taken to Manly Police Station, where he was charged with three counts of attempt possess commercial quantity of unlawful import: border-controlled drug.
Police will allege in court that the man was using his contracted position in attempt to safely receive known packages across his designated delivery areas.
He has been refused bail and will appear in Manly Local Court today (Thursday 5 November 2020).
Inquiries are continuing.
