A Newcastle man is due to face court today, charged with importing 230 kilograms of methamphetamine – with a street value of more than $143 million.
Last month, the Australian Federal Police, together with the NSW Police Force Drug and Firearms Squad, and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, began an investigation in relation to an Australian company importing helical gear drives.
Two shipments containing helical gear drives from the Republic of Korea were examined at the Australian Border Force Containers Examination Facility in Sydney in May.
The first shipment was found to contain 140kg of methamphetamine and the second shipment contained 90kg of the drug.
In both shipments, the methamphetamine was concealed within the helical gear drives.
The 230 kilograms of methamphetamine has an estimated street value of approximately $143,750,000.
A 37-year-old Newcastle man was arrested on Saturday, charged with importing, a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs under the Commonwealth’s Criminal Code Act.
The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.
The man is due to appear in Sydney Central Local Court via video link today.
Detective Acting Inspector Luke Wilson says criminals should be aware police are using data analysis to expose companies undertaking illicit activities.
“This operation should send a strong warning to criminals that if you engage in illegal activities, the AFP will catch, arrest and prosecute you,” Detective Acting Inspector Wilson said.
NSW Police Force Drug and Firearms Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent John Watson, says police are actively targeting those involved in drug supply at all levels.
“The efforts of investigators have once again successfully disrupted what could had led to the large-scale supply of prohibited drugs across NSW and which have the potential to destroy lives and communities,” Detective Superintendent Watson said.
ABF Maritime and Detained Goods Superintendent Graeme Campbell says this operation highlights the strong results that can be achieved when Australia’s law enforcement agencies work together.
“This is a clever concealment, with large quantities of dangerous drugs hidden behind a thick layer of steel,” Superintendent Campbell said.
“But the combination of information sharing with our partners, and the ABF’s technical capabilities, ensured these harmful drugs did not end up on Australia’s streets.”
ACIC Executive Director Intelligence Operations, Matt Rippon noted that the ACIC’s most recent National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Report estimated that $6.96 billion was spent on methamphetamine in Australia during the fourth year of the Program.
“The drug is debilitating, it is destroying lives and the fabric of many communities in Australia,” Mr Rippon said.
“Those involved in the illicit drug trade don’t care about the devastation caused through health and social costs, or drug-related crime.”
“This operation is a great result by Australian law enforcement. By continuously and relentlessly targeting key players, and collaborating with partners, we can dismantle these criminal networks and are continuing to focus on combating the supply side of the methamphetamine drug market,” he said.
