Bonnyrigg man charged in connection to Thailand heroin importation

A Sydney man who allegedly attempted to collect 3kg of heroin imported from Thailand has been charged and is expected to appear in court.

Drug packages found by the Australian Border Force in February 2023. Picture: AFP

A man who allegedly tried to collect 3kg of heroin imported from Thailand, with an estimated street value of $1.7m, will appear in court.

The 31-year-old man, from Bonnyrigg in Sydney’s southwest, was arrested following an Australian Federal Police investigation after Australian Border Force officials discovered the illegal drugs hidden in silk table runners.

The drugs, worth an estimated wholesale value of between $540,000 and $960,000, were replaced with a harmless substance before the package was delivered to a Sydney address.

AFP officers arrested the man when he arrived at the property and allegedly collected the package.

Police will allege the property was not the man’s home but the address of a person known to him and the package was sent there to avoid authorities.

The silk table runners where Australian Border Force officers found the illicit substance. Picture: AFP

The packaging containing over $1.27m worth of heroine. Picture: AFP

The police executed a search warrant on his Bonnyrigg home and seized luxury items worth more than $10,000 – including three designer handbags from Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci.

The man has been charged with attempt to possess a commercial quantity of heroin and was expected to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday.

The silk table runners from Thailand where the three kilograms of heroine was found. Picture: AFP

ABF superintendent Tina Tizzone said criminals will try to “hide illicit substances in a variety of creative ways”.

“However our officers have many detection methods at their disposal with officer intuition and use of innovative technologies often the driving forces behind these kind of discoveries,” she said.

AFP sergeant Alex Drummond said investigations were ongoing and further arrests had not been ruled out.

“Illicit drug use causes a significant burden to the Australian economy, the estimated total social costs for every kilogram of opioids is more than $1.3m, through crime, loss of productivity, emergency treatment and increased healthcare costs,” Sgt Drummond said.

“The AFP and our partners are working tirelessly to protect the Australian community by disrupting all levels of the illicit drug trade.”