Min Yok Cheaw, ephedrine: Malaysian national to stand trial for massive drug importation

A Malaysian national will stand trial for his alleged part in the importation of 1.2 tonnes of ephedrine in a Chinese furniture shipment. That amount of precursor could be used to make $750 million worth of the drug ice, according to police.

Australian Border Force (ABF) officers arrested two Malaysian nationals after detecting and preventing more than 1200kg of ephedrine from reaching illicit drug manufacturers and being used to produce ‘ice’. Picture: ABF

• David Jones IT manager stole $79k
• Sydney’s illegal brothels: Inside the world of the city’s criminal brothels

A 63-year-old Malaysian national has denied his part in the importation of 1.2 tonnes of ephedrine, a precursor used to make the drugs methamphetamine and ice.

Min Yok Cheaw will now stand trial in the District Court after pleading not guilty.

This particular ephedrine shipment could have been used to manufacture $750 million worth of ice or 10 million hits, according to police.

Ephedrine seized by border force officials as part of a 1.2 tonne importation. Picture: ABF

On September 10, 2019, Australian Border Force officers X-rayed a shipping container which was declared as carrying furniture from the port of Shenzhen, China.

Ephedrine, a central nervous system stimulant is produced in large quantities in China.

Instead, the ADF discovered 127 small boxes containing a brown substance.

Australian Border Force (ABF) follow drug delivery to a southwest sydney warehouse. Picture: ABF

Cheaw and his co-accused Weng Kah Chong, 22, allegedly awaited the shipment at their Roselands warehouse, unaware the ABF had already tagged it.

When the delivery arrived on September 16, the two men allegedly began to unpack it before there were arrested by border force officials.

On 10 September 2019 a shipment declared as furniture was x-rayed by ABF officers. Picture: ABF

At the time, Cheaw was in Australia on a tourist visa and was staying in a hostel, while Chong was on a Student Visa and resided at an Auburn address.

Cheaw appeared via video link to the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday where he pleaded not guilty to attempting to import a commercial quantity of border controlled precursor.

Last week, his co-accused Weng Kah Chong, 22, pleaded guilty to the same charge.

Australian Border Force (ABF) officers in Sydney arrested two Malaysian nationals after detecting more than 1.2 tonnes of ephedrine was found in a furniture shipment. Picture: ABF

Both men also had a charge of import commercial quantity of border controlled precursor withdrawn.

Chong is listed for first mention in the District Court on August 7.

Cheaw will face the courts again on August 14 ahead of setting a trial date.