uesday, 22 November 2016, Publish time: 11:29am
An investigation led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has resulted in the seizure of more than 500 kilograms of crystal methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and the arrest of two Chinese nationals in Sydney.
A 38-year-old man and 34-year-old man faced Sydney Central Local Court yesterday (Monday, 21 November 2016) on serious drug importation charges.
Last month, a consignment containing aluminum rollers arrived in Sydney. Australian Border Force (ABF) officers examined the consignment and detected a crystalline substance concealed within the rollers.
While further forensic testing is being conducted to confirm the exact weight and purity of the drugs seized, it is estimated the consignment contained in excess of 500kgs of crystal MDMA. This equates to approximately 1.7 million ecstasy tablets, and has an estimated street value of $60 million.
On Thursday, 17 November 2016, the AFP commenced a controlled delivery of the consignment.
The operation culminated on Sunday, 20 November 2016, when the AFP arrested the two men. Additionally, AFP members executed search warrants on a number of Sydney premises, including a storage facility at Miranda, NSW.
Both men were charged with:
one count of attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely MDMA, contrary to Section 307.1 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, namely MDMA, contrary to Section 307.5 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
These offences carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Acting Commander Brett James, acting AFP State Manager for NSW, said strong ties with domestic and international partners were paramount to combating transnational crime.
“The global criminal environment today is complex and borderless, and organised criminal syndicates will stop at nothing to exploit the demand for illicit drugs in Australia,” Acting Commander James said.
“We will continue countering the illegal activities of these groups with intelligence, innovation, and collaboration with our domestic and international counterparts. I congratulate all those involved in disrupting this criminal syndicate.”
ABF Regional Commander NSW, Tim Fitzgerald, said the successful resolution to this operation was evidence of the value of a layered approach to border security and keeping drugs off the street.
"The ABF is alert to the most sophisticated concealment methods. Our highly skilled officers use intelligence, enhanced technology and continuously evolving search techniques to stop prohibited substances reaching the Australian community,” Commander Fitzgerald said.
”The ABF will continue to work cooperatively with its law enforcement partners to target criminal syndicates who attempt to smuggle drugs into this country."
Please note: The estimated street value of this seizure has been calculated according to the median drug price for the specific drug as listed in the latest Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Illicit Drug Data Report (
www.acic.gov.au ). The final total is expressed as if the seizure would have been broken up at its current level of purity and sold at the end of the supply chain in individual street dosage units.