Whopping 6.6 tonnes of ‘date rape’ drug found hidden in Sydney storage unit, as husband and wife couple are charged
A couple have been charged, with police alleging the drugs were being sent across Australia via the post. SEE THE PICTURES.
NSW
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A six-tonne load of devastating “date rape” drug butanediol has been found in a storage unit in Sydney’s inner west, months after a shocking national warning about its links to sexual assaults and overdoses.
NSW Police have been left shocked by the discovery on Wednesday morning of the record amount of the heinous drug at a Kennards storage unit at Homebush.
Officers will allege the haul could have been worth as much as $132m on the street.
Police allege husband and wife Fanrui Meng and Jikun Liu were distributing the drugs through various means, including Australia Post.
Meng, 27, and Liu, 28, were arrested and charged on Wednesday, with Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood telling The Daily Telegraph police would allege the drug was being distributed not only in Sydney but interstate.
“We allege there is a nexus with these individuals, in respect of their on-supply of the drug utilising various postal platforms to supply to respective customers,” Asst Comm Wood said.
“Clearly the drug is multipurpose, it can be used as a date rape drug and as ‘fantasy’, which as its name alludes is a party drug.
“We believe it to be the largest seizure in the state of NSW in relation to the drug.
“This seizure, by sheer volume is significant... this will be a huge, huge impact on any network, or usage of this drug in this state.”
The initial chance discovery of a small amount of butanediol - commonly known as “bute” - during a Firearm Prohibition Order check was pursued by Burwood investigators who soon tracked other similar parcels to local post offices.
In Silverwater they allegedly found 225kgs of bute at a mail facility, and 23kgs at Rhodes post office.
From there, they followed the drugs to Homebush and arrested Meng at the wheel of a car allegedly containing 110kgs of bute.
Asst Comm Wood praised the “outstanding” work of local detectives to take the drugs off the street, with Burwood commander Christine McDonald saying she was proud of her team and their efforts on a job that is so big, for many it will be a “once in a lifetime investigation”.
“This is an outstanding investigation by our police, who are out there all day and all night, doing their best for the community,” Asst Comm Wood said.
“This investigation is in its infancy and there are a number of lines of investigation that are being followed under a Strike Force which is being led by the State Crime Command’s Drugs Squad.”
Detectives investigating under Strike Force Camena carried out a search warrant at Meng and Liu’s apartment in Ashfield on Tuesday.
Liu was initially questioned and released without charge, but following the alleged discovery of 6.3t at the Parramatta Rd storage unit, police returned on Wednesday to arrest her for a second time.
Meng had one question when he appeared at Burwood Local Court, charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, on Wednesday afternoon.
“Where is my wife?” he asked.
It led to several hours of confusion in court, as his Legal Aid solicitor told magistrate Jennifer Price his wife may have also been arrested.
“He wants to know what happened to his wife,” the Mandarin interpreter said after speaking with Meng in the dock.
“I don’t know,” Ms Price responded.
“Both were arrested, as I understand,” his solicitor told the court.
Meng’s matter was adjourned to return to the same court on Thursday, when Liu, who has been charged with taking part in the supply of a large quantity of a prohibited drug, is also due to appear for the first time.
Butanediol was last year defined as a border-controlled drug, meaning anyone convicted of importing it can face life imprisonment.
The Australian Federal Police warned the nation in May 2024 about the dangers of the drug and the “escalating harm” it was causing.
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