We note with alarm the latest news that record hauls of illegal drugs have been found in cargo comprising marble slabs, a vintage car and an industrial lathe. We have reported in the past on the increased efforts by Australian authorities to prevent drug smuggling and all the latest reports are of concern because they were concealed in commercial shipments.
Image above: Officers wore protective bio hazard suits to protect against any skin contact with the drug (Credit: AFP).
The largest ever shipment of the deadly opioid fentanyl into Australia was discovered inside ammunition boxes imported to Melbourne, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have said. More than 5,000,000 doses of the drug were seized when Australian Border Force (ABF) staff found 11 kilograms of pure powdered fentanyl and 30 kilograms of methamphetamine inside in an industrial wooden lathe that arrived from Canada. The methamphetamine had an estimated street value of $27,000,000.
In a separate investigation that started earlier this year, investigators examined a number of sea cargo containers that had arrived in Port Botany, finding 748kg of methylamphetamine hidden in marble slabs. Authorities reveal they had also investigated extra containers, also at Port Botany, finding a further 1060kg of meth also hidden in marble slabs. The overall 1800kg-plus ice shipment had an estimated street value of more than $1.6 billion.
The ABF have also uncovered a shipment of more than $150 million worth of cocaine and ice stashed inside a vintage Bentley car. The car, a 1960 Bentley S2, arrived at Port Botany in a shipping container from Canada. Police allegedly seized 2.2kg of ice and more than $1.1 million in cash.
A shipment of $150 million of drugs was found
inside a Bentley. (Credit: NSW Police)
In yet another story this week, a Sydney man, 36, has been sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for importing 10 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in electric motors. The AFP estimated this seizure has saved the community more than $4 million in drug-related harm, including associated crime, healthcare and loss of productivity.
The man has been sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of four years, by the Sydney Downing Centre District Court on 01 September, 2022 after pleading guilty in May 2022 to importing the methamphetamine, which he had delivered to his workplace.
ABF officers located the stash hidden in consignments labelled electric motors and pool pumps. The shipments, from Italy and the US, were linked to the man and a business in a Sydney suburb where he worked as a store manager and had the illicit drugs delivered.
Anyone who imports a large quantity of methamphetamine or any other illicit drug into Australia risks life behind bars.
It is sometimes the case that shippers and consignees are unwittingly used by unscrupulous gangs to transport drugs. If you ever have reason to suspect that a shipment has been compromised, contact us immediately for advice.
Make sure all your transactions are within the law. As licensed Customs Brokers and International Freight Forwarders, Colless Young offers correct, professional advice on all your import and export cargo shipping needs. We provide a complete range of logistics services, for both air and sea freight, including fumigation, warehousing and trucking – through all Australian ports and airports.
