Point Frederick: Salim Moujalli on trial for allegedly trying to obtain $8m worth of liquid meth via mail

A man has been found guilty of trying to import $8m worth of liquid “meth” from the Netherlands, disguised as beauty products, via Australia Post.

Salim Moujalli, 45, of Point Frederick, has been found guity of attempting to import 552g of pure liquid meth - worth an estimated street value of up to $8m - through the mail during the height of Covid in 2020. Picture: NewsLocal

A Central Coast man has been found guilty of attempting to import more than half a kilogram of pure liquid meth through the post.

A jury took just under seven hours to convict Salim Moujalli, of Point Frederick, of attempting to possess a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug.

The 45-year-old faced a trial in Gosford District Court which heard he used mobile phones and email addresses registered in false names to inquire why his package of Garnier SkinActive Micellar water — which contained more than half a kilogram of pure liquid meth — was being held up in Western Australia, a court has heard.

The court heard on May 20, 2020, Australia Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted a package at the Perth gateway facility addressed to “Sam Moyle” of a unit block on Albany St, Point Frederick.

The package contained what purported to be four clear 400mL bottles of Garnier SkinActive Micellar water.

However forensic testing revealed the bottles contained a total of 552g of pure liquid methamphetamine, which the court heard had an estimated street value of up to $8m.

Moujalli (white shirt) arriving at Gosford District Court with a supporter. Picture: NewsLocal

The package was handed over to WA Police who “deconstructed” it before refilling the bottles with water and sending it on its way.

The court heard on May 28 and June 3 Australia Post received emails via the customer inquiry section of its website linked to a user named “Sam Moyle” inquiring about the status of his delivery.

Mr Moujalli has denied trying to obtain illegal drugs

That were seized on June 11, 2020.

“My package has been sitting in Perth, WA, per the tracking but it’s addressed to my NSW address, so that’s a concern itself. What is more alarming is it’s been there since 19/05. Please help,” one email read.

“Hi, I know you guys must be overly stretched due to the outbreak of Civid (Covid) 19 but could I please have some reassurance that my inquiry has not fallen upon deaf ears please. Anything would be much appreciated. Cheers,” read the other.

The court heard the package was delivered to the Albany St unit on June 11 by an undercover police officer posing as a delivery driver, who asked Mr Moujalli if he was “Sam Moyle”.

The Crown prosecutor said Mr Moujalli replied “yes” before taking the package inside.

Moments later police stormed the unit seizing the package along with mobile phones and a notebook.

The Crown prosecutor told the court the mobile phones seized — which had allegedly been registered in false names — were linked to IP and email addresses used to inquire with Australia Post about the delayed delivery.

In his opening address, Mr Moujalli’s barrister Philip Swaine said the two main issues in dispute were whether his client intended to possess the substance contained in the original consignment and whether he knew it contained a border controlled drug.

Mr Swaine said Mr Moujalli pleaded not guilty because he did not commit the offence as alleged by the Crown.

Moujalli, who was remanded into custody after the jury’s verdict, will face court again on Thursday to fix a sentencing date.