Melissa Phommahaxay, Souknelane Meksavanh: 600L of methamphetamine seized in coconut milk cans
Two people accused of importing 600 litres of liquid methamphetamine concealed coconut milk cans from Thailand have been arrested after the drugs were seized in western Sydney.
Parramatta
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Two people, Melissa Phommahaxay and Souknelane Meksavanh, who are accused of importing 600 litres of liquid methamphetamine concealed in coconut milk cans have been arrested after the drugs were seized at a Girraween warehouse.
The pair was arrested on Wednesday after Australian Federal Police seized 86 boxes of the goods, which police allege were flown from Thailand last month.
Australian Border Force members examined the consignment and upon identifying anomalies, tested the liquid from one of the cans, which returned a positive result for methamphetamine.
The matter was referred to the AFP who began an investigation into the “well-resourced’’ syndicate.
On Wednesday night, Phommahaxay, 29, and Meksavanh, 20, were arrested after accepting a consignment to a warehouse in Girraween where AFP were awaiting the consignment.
They were each charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine.
The pair was refused bail at Sydney Central Local Court yesterday and they are next due to appear on November 4.
The maximum penalty for the offence is life imprisonment.
The total weight of the drugs is still being determined, but is estimated to be about 600 litres of liquid methamphetamine.
AFP Detective Superintendent Geoffrey Turner said the investigation was continuing and had not ruled out further arrests.
“We are still investigating this matter to determine the role of everyone involved in this large scale importation of liquid methamphetamine,’’ Det-Supt Turner said.
“We will also liaise with our international partners to try and identify the organised crime syndicate behind this importation – only a well-resourced organised crime syndicate would be able to finance and facilitate an importation of this scale.’’
ABF Acting NSW Regional Commander Matthew O’Connor said the large detection of methamphetamine in an air cargo was a “clever concealment but our highly-trained officers come across tens-of-thousands of packages a week and they know if something isn’t right”.
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