Vale Park women charged after ABF officers intercept candles containing pseudoephedrine
Two women have been charged after Australian Border Force officials discovered suspicious packages containing candles – and a restricted drug precursor.
Police & Courts
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Two women accused of importing candles laced with pseudoephedrine have appeared in court charged with serious drug importation and trafficking offences.
Australian Border Force officials intercepted four parcels of candles from Canada which they allege contained a significant quantity of pseudoephedrine – a precursor for making methamphetamine – in the candle wax.
ABF led a joint operation with SA Police Serious and Organised Crime Branch and raided a Vale Park property last week where they allegedly discovered and seized a clandestine drug laboratory, 16 litres of the drug fantasy and about $69,000 in cash.
They arrested a 31-year-old Vale Park woman who was charged with drug importation offences. She and another woman at the property, 51, were also charged with manufacturing a controlled drug, trafficking a large commercial quantity of drugs and money laundering.
ABF Inspector Steve Garden said the force work closely with SA Police to investigate attempts to import precursor drugs like pseudoephedrine into the state.
“Pseudoephedrine is a commonly used ingredient to manufacture methamphetamine that ultimately ends up on the streets of Adelaide causing untold misery,” he said.
“We work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to disrupt criminal activities to bring the manufacturers of these harmful drugs before the courts.
“This collaboration is a vital part of our investigative work, without which our job would be much more difficult.”
Serious and Organised Crime Branch Detective Chief Inspector David Huddy said the joint agency partnership led to the discovery and seizure of a clandestine laboratory, that was inherently dangerous due to the highly volatile ingredients used and the process undertaken.”
Both women have been remanded in custody and are due to return to court later this week.
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