$97m worth of ice allegedly found in machinery sent from Central America
Police have smashed an alleged ice ring after seizing almost $100m of methylamphetamine from a Sydney freight depot originally sent from Central America.
The Express
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A specialist police squad has allegedly cracked a massive ice smuggling operation from Central America, seizing nearly $100 million worth of the banned drug.
A 26-year-old man was arrested at his Yagoona home on Thursday morning after Strike Force Redgurnard detectives executed two search warrants at a home and an industrial unit at Condell Park.
The methylamphetamine was allegedly concealed inside a large piece of machinery which had arrived at a Sydney freight depot from Central America in December.
Acting on a tip off from NSW Police, Australian Border Force officers examined the consignment and found some inconsistencies.
The 26-year-old man has been charged with supplying prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).
Police will allege in court the man accessed the consignment at Condell Park.
He was refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court on Friday, January 31.
Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman, said investigations are ongoing to get those responsible for the importation of the drugs.
“The Organised Crime Squad and the entire NSW Police Force is focused on working with our partners to target the criminal networks who import, manufacture and supply illicit drugs,” Det Supt Fileman said.
“We have disrupted the activities of this syndicate and we will not stop with this arrest.”
He said the bust was a significant breakthrough for detectives.
“We’re talking about 130kg of methamphetamine, so you’re talking about nearly $100 million worth of drugs that aren’t going to hit the streets of Sydney and aren’t going to hit the regional cities of NSW, so it is extremely significant,” he said.
“The substance was tested and returned a presumptive positive result for methylamphetamine, which has an estimated potential street value of $97.5 million.
“Strike Force Redgurnard investigators, with assistance from the Australian Federal Police and ABF, seized the consignment and conducted a controlled delivery.”
ABF Regional Commander for NSW Danielle Yannopoulos says seizures like this show the ABF’s commitment to keeping illicit substances out of Australia.
‘WARNING TO CRIMINAL GROUPS’
“Every day, the ABF is working with its law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those involved in attempting to import this life destroying drug into Australia,” he said.
“This result should serve as a warning to criminal groups — think twice about trying to smuggle drugs into Australia, because no matter how you try to conceal them, we will find them.”
The big breakthrough follows investigations by the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission and the Australian Border Force.
Strike Force Redgurnard was established in February 2019 to investigate the importation and supply of illicit drugs into NSW.
Inquiries are continuing.