Four men, including a 29-year-old Nigerian
man faced court in Perth, Australia on Friday,
26 August 2016 for their alleged role in the
importation of around 45.6 kilograms of
methamphetamine concealed in timber logs.
A joint investigation involving the Australian
Federal Police (AFP) and Western Australia
Police (WA Police) commenced in June after
a sea cargo consignment containing timber
logs arrived in Perth from Africa. An x-ray
examination of the consignment by
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers
identified concealment within nine timber
logs.
ABF referred the matter to police, and a
forensic examination was conducted. A total
of 106 secreted packages containing around
45.6kgs of methamphetamine were detected.
This amount of methamphetamine has an
approximate street value of $45.6 million.
In late June, a joint agency controlled
operation commenced and the consignment
was delivered to an address in Baldivis,
Western Australia. As a result of the
operation, a 42-year-old man and a 54-year-
old man were arrested and charged with
attempting to possess a commercial quantity
of an unlawfully imported border controlled
drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to
section 307.5 Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth),
by virtue of section 11.1 of the Criminal
Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty
for this offence is life imprisonment.
Subsequent enquiries revealed a further two
men were allegedly involved in the
importation. In late July, search warrants
were conducted in Western Australia and
Victoria. A 33-year-old man was arrested in
Western Australia, and a 29-year-old
Nigerian man was arrested in Victoria, and
then extradited to Western Australia.
Both men were charged with one count of
importing a commercial quantity of a border
controlled drug, namely methamphetamine,
contrary to section 307.1(1) of the Criminal
Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty
for this offence is life imprisonment.
The 42-year-old man is due to reappear in
the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on
Wednesday, 31 August 2016. The 29-year-
old, 33-year-old and 54-year-old men are due
to reappear in the Stirling Gardens
Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 16
November 2016.
AFP Commander Matt Rippon, State
Manager WA, said close collaboration
between border protection and law
enforcement agencies across Australia was
integral to the success of this operation.
"Strong relationships with our
domestic and international partners
are vital to identifying and disrupting
importations of this extremely
damaging drug,” Commander Rippon
said. "We are continuing to work
together across jurisdictions and
borders to break criminal networks,
with our main priority being the safety
of the community."
ABF Regional Commander WA Rod O’Donnell
said the AFP and ABF are resolute in their
commitment to stemming the flow of this
illegal and dangerous drug into Australia.
"This seizure is yet another example of
the ABF’s success in targeting large
shipments of methamphetamine
arriving in air and sea cargo,”
Commander O’Donnell said. "A
detection of this size and the
subsequent Police operation has a
direct benefit to the Australian
community by stopping this product
reaching the streets."
WA Police State Crime Assistant
Commissioner Michelle Fyfe said the seized
drugs had the potential to cause immense
harm in the Western Australian community.
"We are pleased that this significant
quantity of methamphetamine has
been seized before it could reach our
streets," Mrs Fyfe said. Afp.gov.au
0 comments: