Mexican drug bust in Sydney’s inner west

SYDNEY border police have disrupted a major Mexican cartel drug smuggling operation, seizing 24kg of methamphetamine hidden inside home audio speakers.

Border Force officers found a crystalline substance hidden inside the speakers. Picture: ABF

SYDNEY border police have disrupted a major Mexican cartel drug smuggling operation, seizing 24kg of methamphetamine hidden inside home audio speakers.

Australian Border Force officers intercepted an airfreight consignment containing eight speakers yesterday and used X-ray scans to find “crystalline substance concealed within the speakers”.

An x-ray of the consignment showed inconsistencies, despite the presence of a layer of silver foil officers believed was an attempt to defeat the scan. Picture: AFP

The haul — which has a street value of $20.7 million — was removed from the speakers and replaced with fake drugs, which were delivered to addresses in Rozelle and Marrickville where officers arrested a 25-year-old Mexican woman and a 25-year-old Australian woman.

Both women were charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.

AFP Commander Justine Gough said the details uncovered in the investigation suggested the operation was a highly organised.

Evidence collected by police. Picture: ABF

The drugs were hidden inside speakers. Picture: ABF

The substance inside the speakers tested positive for methamphetamine. Picture: ABF

“We continue to see overseas drug networks trying to target Australia, because they know there is a high demand in our country and unfortunately, users are willing to pay the price,” she said.

“This co-ordinated, multi-agency investigation has helped us to have great disruptive effect and save 240,000 hits of ice from reaching Sydney’s streets.”

ABF Superintendent Aviation Goods Brett Totten said the Mexican drug syndicate attempted to hide the drugs with an elaborate layer of foil.

How the speakers were packaged.

“During the examination ABF Officers located a plastic box that was wrapped in carbon paper and a layer of silver foil within the audio speakers in what was a deliberate attempt to defeat x-ray technology.

“The plastic box was found to contain a white crystalline substance which tested positive for methamphetamine.

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“This detection illustrates that no matter how sophisticated the concealment is, or what lengths criminal syndicates will go to in order to defeat our technology or circumvent our controls, the Australian Border Force is at the border ready to intervene and stop any attempt to smuggle drugs into our community.”

The women appeared before Sydney Central Local Court on Friday, where bail was denied.

Their charges carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.