A young man, drawn into a major methamphetamine smuggling operation under the promise of $50,000 to settle gambling debts, faces a lengthy prison sentence. The case escalated when two coffee grinders shipped from Guatemala to Brisbane Airport were discovered to contain 286 blocks of methamphetamine, totalling 53.4 kilograms and valued at a staggering $80 million.
This illicit shipment was orchestrated using stolen identification and replaced by the Australian Federal Police before being sent to a courier facility. On January 29, 2024, the grinders were transported to Sydney and handed over to Jimmy Ong, 25, and Nguyen “Daniel” Thanh Huy La, 27. Both men pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug and were subsequently sentenced by the NSW District Court.
Tension filled the courtroom as family members reacted emotionally to the verdict. The operation was managed through the encrypted app Threema. The illegal package was delivered to Ong’s grandparents’ residence in Cabramatta, where Ong and 22-year-old Steven Chan Bao Le attempted to unpack the grinders. Ong, aware the grinders hid illegal content, later discovered the enormous quantity of drugs within. He had accrued around $30,000 in gambling debts, enticing him into the smuggling scheme.
Ong utilized his driver’s licence to rent a forklift for transporting the grinders, with La assisting in the operation. NSW Police raided the Cabramatta premises on January 31 as the duo attempted to dismantle the grinders, resulting in Ong’s immediate arrest. Le was apprehended nearby while attempting to escape, and La was taken into custody in August.
During the sentencing, Judge Sharon Harris acknowledged both men’s apologies and their efforts towards rehabilitation, including seeking psychiatric support. She remarked on the naivety displayed by Ong due to the simplicity of the plot and noted that they had both used identifiable names and traceable phone numbers in their dealings. Additionally, the judge highlighted their troubled backgrounds, marred by domestic violence and the influences of gambling and alcohol among their peers.
Both men received a 25% discount on their sentences for their guilty pleas. Ong was sentenced to a maximum of six years, with a non-parole period of three years, while La received five years with a non-parole period of 2.5 years. Meanwhile, Steven Chan Bao Le, who also pleaded guilty, is set for sentencing on July 28.