A 28-year-old Queensland man and a 37-year-old West Australian man have been charged in relation to the importation of methamphetamine into Australia.
The investigation commenced after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted a package from Malaysia at a Perth air cargo depot on 26 July 2020.
The consignment was described as 'flat pack shoe racks and shelves' and addressed to a residence in the South West city of Bunbury.
An x-ray of the package revealed anomalies, and an ABF drug detector dog subsequently gave a positive reaction. What appeared to be a 'gap filler' like material was spilling out of the ends of some of the shelf legs.
It will be alleged that when officers deconstructed the legs they located approximately two kilograms of a crystalline substance that returned a presumptive positive test result for meth.
Four days later (30 July), a second identical package, this time addressed to the same name but at a Perth residence, was intercepted by ABF officers at a different air cargo depot.
They allegedly found another two kilograms of meth concealed in furniture legs.
On 31 July a third package from the same consignor in Malaysia was examined by ABF officers in Brisbane.
They allegedly identified meth weighing approximately 1.8kgs in eight furniture legs.
That matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in Queensland.
On Monday afternoon (14 September 2020), AFP officers conducted a search warrant at a home in the Logan City suburb of Hillcrest, where a 28-year-old man was arrested.
It will be alleged officers located over $491,000 in cash, an additional 1.8 kilograms of a substance believed to be methamphetamine and 1.2 kilograms of other substances, believed to be border controlled drugs.
The man appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday (15 September 2020) charged with:
•One count of attempt to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drug, contrary to section 11.1 and 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth),
•One count of possession of a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs reasonably suspected of having been unlawfully imported, contrary to section 307.8(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth),
•One count of trafficking commercial quantities of controlled drugs, contrary to section 302.2 of the Criminal Code (Cth) and,
•One count of Dealing in proceeds of crime – money or property worth $100,000 or more, contrary to section 400.4(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
If convicted, the maximum penalty for these offences ranges from 20 years to life imprisonment.
He is next due to appear in court on 22 September 2020.
As part of the same investigation, detectives from Western Australian Police Force's (WAPF) Drug & Firearm Squad intercepted a vehicle in Canning Vale on Monday, 3 August 2020.
Several items of interest, being furniture parts, were seized from the vehicle.
It will be alleged that these furniture parts contained a total of approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine concealed within them.
A 37-year-old man was arrested.
On the same day, WAPF and AFP detectives executed a search warrant at the man's residence in Newman Street, Glen Iris (Bunbury), where it will be alleged similar items were located, which contained approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine.
It will be further alleged the same man attempted to take possession of similar items on Sunday, 26 July 2020, which also contained approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine.
A 37-year-old man from Glen Iris has been charged by WA Police with:
•Two counts of attempt to possess prohibited drugs with intent to sell or supply (methamphetamine),
•One count of possession of a prohibited drug with Intent to sell or supply (methamphetamine) and,
•Possession of stolen or unlawfully obtained property.
He is next due to appear in Perth Magistrates court on Tuesday, 20 October 2020.
AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Stephen Jay said the arrests were an example of a coordinated effort by the AFP, ABF and WAPF.
"Working with our Commonwealth and state partners, we will outsmart you. We are united in protecting our community by stopping harmful drugs like meth from reaching Australian streets," Detective Acting Superintendent Jay said.
ABF Acting Regional Commander for WA, Felicity Horrocks, praised the officers working in the air cargo stream for their ongoing commitment to stopping contraband crossing the border.
"Our officers have seen every creative concealment imaginable, and as a result constantly expect the unexpected," Acting Commander Horrocks said.
"They use cutting edge detection equipment as well as our highly trained dogs to prevent harmful drugs from making their way into Australia.
"This outcome again demonstrates the highly effective collaborative manner in which the ABF, AFP and State police work together to protect the community."
Detective Superintendent Tony Longhorn from the WA Police Force Serious and Organised Crime Division said relationships with the ABF and AFP have never been stronger.
"Together we will continue to target both domestic and international Serious and Organised Crime Groups who attempt to flood our community with harmful illicit drugs," Superintendent Longhorn said.
"Our sharing of intelligence and coordination of investigations across borders continues to deliver results for our community, and we remain committed to identifying and prosecuting those people involved in the illicit drugs trade.
"In this instance approximately six kilograms of Meth was prevented from reaching the streets of Western Australia."
Media are encouraged to include help-seeking information in stories about illicit drugs to minimise any negative impact on people in the community.
The following services provide people with access to support and information.
For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
Access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online at the Counselling Online website.
