A 23 year old Malaysian man has been sentenced to 7 years in prison after pleading guilty for his part in importing 1.2 tonnes of Ephedrine.
On 10 September 2019 a shipment declared as furniture was X-rayed by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at the Sydney Container Examination facility. During the X-ray, officers noted anomalies in the contents of the container.
A physical examination of the container revealed 127 boxes hidden behind a large amount of wooden furniture which included chairs, tables and couches. The boxes were found to contain a brown substance.
Presumptive testing of the substance gave a positive result for ephedrine, a precursor used in the manufacture of the drug methamphetamine or "ice".
ABF officers conducted a managed delivery of the container and on 16 September 2019 the container was delivered to an address in Roselands NSW.
The man was observed accessing the container and was arrested and charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor, namely ephedrine, contrary to subsection 307.11 (1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
He was sentenced today in Downing Centre District Court to 7 years in prison with a non-parole period of 4 years.
Acting ABF Commander Enforcement Operations East, Garry Low, said the case served as a warning to criminals that the ABF will tirelessly investigate these offences, track down those responsible, and bring them to justice.
"The seizure of 1.2 tonnes of ephedrine has prevented the potential manufacture of millions of hits of ice," he said.
"We know "ice" is causing significant damage to communities around the country which is why we are committed to stopping these substances from hitting the streets and catching those responsible and bringing them before the courts".
Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood, praised the diligence of ABF officers working across the country to protect the Australian community.
"The ABF officers involved in this case have worked tirelessly to ensure Australians are kept safe and criminals who have tried to profit from these substances are brought to justice." he said.
"I would like to thank all the hardworking ABF officers deployed around the country who are performing a critical role in keeping the Australian community safe from illicit drugs and other dangerous goods."
People with information about the illicit importation of precursors or drugs should contact Border Watch by going to www.Australia.gov.au/borderwatch. By reporting suspicious activities, you help protect Australia's border. Information can be provided anonymously.
Images of the orginal detection can be found here.
