JOINT TASKFORCE ICARUS members have arrested and charged two more men in connection to the alleged import of almost eight kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside a shipment of water filters sent to Melbourne last year.
A 29-year-old man and a 26-year-old man, both Malaysian nationals, were arrested after detectives executed a series of search warrants at addresses in Docklands and the Melbourne CBD between 20 January and February 3, 2021.
It will be alleged in court police located approximately $147,000 in cash, 19 kilograms of 1, 4 Butanediol, 22 kilograms of methamphetamine, 20 kilograms of methyl alpha-phenylacetoacetate (a border controlled precursor to amphetamine and methamphetamine), seven mobile phones and a number of SIM cards.
The 29-year-old has been charged with;
- Attempting to traffic commercial quantities of drugs of dependence, namely 1,4-Butanediol, under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic).
- Importing marketable quantities of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, namely methamphetamine, under the Commonwealth Criminal Code.
- Attempting to possess marketable quantities of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, namely methamphetamine, under the Commonwealth Criminal Code.
The maximum penalty for these offences is 25 years imprisonment.
He faced the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 21 January 2021 and was remanded to reappear at on 12 May 2021.
The 26-year-old man has been charged with;
- Importing commercial quantities of border controlled drugs (methamphetamine), under the Commonwealth Criminal Code. The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment.
- Refusing to provide police with access to his mobile phones under the Commonwealth Criminal Code. The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years imprisonment.
He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 4 February 2021 and was remanded to reappear again on 27 May 2021.
The charges follow the arrest of a 27-year-old Malaysian national in late October last year in connection to the same importation of illicit drugs.
The man faced the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on October 26 2020 where bail was refused. He is set to reappear again on 22 March 2021.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP), together with Victoria Police and Australian Border Force under joint agency Taskforce Icarus, commenced their investigations after ABF officers identified a suspicious consignment sent from Vancouver, Canada to Melbourne, Australia on 27 September 2020.
AFP Commander Todd Hunter said the AFP, working closely with ABF and Victoria Police, will continue to combat those seeking to profit from drugs such as methamphetamine.
"No element of the supply chain is safe from the collective efforts of law enforcement agencies in combatting the misery caused by illicit drugs such as methamphetamine," Commander Hunter said.
Victoria Police Detective Superintendent Jacqueline Curran said this result is significant for police and the Victorian community.
"We see daily the harm that imported illicit drugs have on the community and not just the physical and health impacts on users, but the devastating flow on effect to the broader community through the commission of other crimes," Detective Superintendent Curran said.
"This result highlights the commitment of law enforcement agencies to hold offenders accountable for their criminal actions and police will continue to actively target and disrupt the activities of those who bring illicit drugs into Victoria."
