Two men from Sydney have been arrested, while another man from Melbourne faces charges following a police operation that reportedly revealed a scheme to import methamphetamine worth $333 million into Australia.
The Australian Border Force allegedly intercepted a shipment containing 360 boxes of decorative tiles from the Middle East, which were found to be laced with methamphetamine. On 15 April, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) removed these tiles and transported them to a storage location in Chullora, located in Sydney’s south-west.
According to police, a 56-year-old Sydney man collected the consignment, and a 39-year-old accomplice assisted in storing the drugs at the facility. An AFP spokesperson indicated that both men were aware that the shipment contained illegal substances and were set to receive up to $50,000 in compensation for their involvement.
On 22 April, the shipment was moved to a storage facility in Clayton South, Victoria. Subsequently, further investigations led authorities to identify a 39-year-old Melbourne man as the intended recipient of the drugs. Following a search at his Donnybrook residence on 12 May, investigators seized several electronic devices that allegedly connected him to the drug importation conspiracy.
The Melbourne man has been charged with attempting to possess a significant quantity of unlawfully imported drugs, failing to comply with a 3LA order, and engaging in an indictable offence while on bail. Meanwhile, the two men from Sydney were apprehended in Holroyd and Liverpool. They are expected to appear in a Sydney court later today, facing charges of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a controlled drug, which carries a potential life sentence.
The AFP continues to investigate the matter, reinforcing its commitment to combating drug trafficking in Australia.