Assadullah Mohammadi charged over alleged Adelaide-wide drug syndicate following ABF pseudoephedrine raids

Two countries, 10 houses, simultaneous raids and an arrest – this is the story of an alleged India-to-Adelaide drug syndicate and how it was brought down.

An India-to-Adelaide drug-manufacturing syndicate hid the tools of its trade inside household items ranging from buttons and ribbon to knee braces, a court has heard.

Assadullah Mohammadi, 34, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday following 10 raids conducted by Australian Border Force last month.

The Advertiser can reveal those raids were the result of a two-month investigation into shipments of pseudoephedrine – used to make methylamphetamine – into SA from India.

Mr Mohammadi, centre, is arrested by Australian Border Force officers. Picture: ABF

A package of pseudoephedrine powder that had been hidden inside items in one of the consignments. Picture: ABF

Between February and April, ABF officers identified and intercepted three consignments bound for Adelaide addresses.

Inside, they allegedly found household items including buttons, ribbon spools and knee braces.

Allegedly concealed within those items was in excess of 2kg of powdered pseudoephedrine, which is an illegal and border-controlled substance.

The discovery prompted the raids, in May, at addresses in Ingle Farm, Kensington, Gilberton, Hectorville, Pooraka, Blair Athol and Klemzig.

Buttons, shipped to Adelaide from India, in which powdered pseudoephedrine had been secreted. Picture: ABF

The controlled substance, used to make meth, was also hidden in spools of ribbon. Picture: ABF

ABF officers, digital forensic officers and the detector dog unit allegedly found a trafficable quantity of methamphetamine and cannabis, MDMA and heroin.

They also allegedly found weapons including taser knuckle dusters, which were seized by SA Police.

Evidence seized from those locations also allegedly included several digital devices, drug paraphernalia, items of clothing and various documents.

Mr Mohammadi, who was refused bail, has yet to plead to possessing a controlled precursor with the intent to manufacture drugs or commit an offence.

On Monday, the Adelaide Magistrates Court remanded him in custody to answer the charges in October.

A packet of pseudoephedrine powder hidden in the top-left corner of a knee brace. Picture: ABF

The chemical precursor had been hidden in a number of items in the three consignments. Picture: ABF

ABF Inspector Steve Garden said investigations were ongoing, and that dismantling the syndicate was the result of the investigators’ diligence and persistence.

“The illegal import of pseudoephedrine directly contributes to significant issues and drug-related crime,” he said.

“The diligence of ABF investigators has resulted in the dismantling of a criminal group that represents significant safety and health risks to themselves, drug users and members of the community.”