An operation sparked by a seizure of methamphetamine in Turkey destined for Australia has resulted in two arrests in Sydney by the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
Investigations began in October 2017, following the seizure of 1.16 kilograms of methamphetamine by Turkish authorities, destined for an address in Granville, NSW.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers commenced targeted profiling, and on 29 December 2017, an air cargo consignment was stopped on arrival into Sydney, containing jars declared as natural honey.
Two of the boxes from the consignment contained jars with a gel-like substance, which returned a positive presumptive reading for methamphetamine. The consignment contained approximately 9.6 kilograms of methamphetamine in total.
This matter was referred to the AFP for further investigation. As a result of extensive enquiries to identify the alleged offenders connected with the importation, AFP officers executed a series of search warrants across Sydney yesterday (Wednesday, 21 February) in Granville, Merrylands and Parramatta.
AFP officers arrested two men, a 28-year-old Iranian national living in Granville and a 31-year-old Iranian national living in Parramatta.
The men have both been charged with importation of a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 307.1 of theCriminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
Both men appeared in Sydney Central Local Court today and did not apply for bail.
AFP Commander Justine Gough, Manager Crime Operations, said the operation highlights the strength of domestic and international law enforcement partnerships.
"The AFP has worked cooperatively with the Australian Border Force and Turkish authorities to detect and disrupt this criminal group. This has prevented a significant quantity of methamphetamine, a drug with life destroying consequences, from entering Australia".
Acting ABF Regional Commander NSW Marisa Dominello said these detections demonstrate how vigilant our ABF officers are at the border.
"The ABF uses a multi-layered intelligence and targeted approach to select the right packages wherever and whenever they arrive. Our front line offices are highly trained at detecting even the most elaborate concealment methods."
The maximum penalty for Commonwealth drug importation offences of commercial quantities is life imprisonment.