Sydney teenagers charged with drug importation after police intercept parcel of illicit drugs
A 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy have been charged after allegedly tyring to import 3kg of MDMA in a coffee machine from Europe, police have said.
The Express
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Two teens have landed in hot water after being accused of attempting to import illicit drugs from the Netherlands.
A 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy linked to a Villawood address allegedly attempted to import more than 3kg of MDMA, or ecstasy, concealed in a coffee machine in July 2017.
Bankstown detectives charged the girl and boy with drug supply, alleging that the teens were to receive the drugs with the task of handing them on.
Detective Senior-Constable Robert Wahhab said police intercepted the parcel after a tip-off from a member of the public.
“We were able to pick it up within a day, which is a very good result from a community tip-off,” Sen-Constable Wahhab said.
The girl pleaded guilty to the charges and is on strict bail until she is sentenced in the coming weeks. The boy remains behind bars and will appear before Parramatta District Court for mention on May 3.
The girl, who has since turned 16, allegedly attempted to import 1.3kg of MDMA.
The boy, who is now 18, was charged with allegedly attempting to take possession of two lots of 1kg.
Bankstown detectives said the packaging had markings from the Netherlands.
No adults have been charged in connection to the alleged importation at this stage.
“The NSW Police Force takes any matter involving prohibited drugs very seriously,” Sen-Constable Wahhab said.
“All matters relating to the alleged supply of prohibited drugs will be investigated thoroughly and especially by Bankstown police.”
Sen-Constable Wahhab is the officer in charge of Strike Force Godwin which targets drug dealers in the Bankstown region.
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It is an unusual case for police, with just four juvenile offenders being charged with drug importation anywhere in the state in the past three years.
Bureau of Crime Statistics records indicate less than 18 children across the state have ever been charged with drug importation and proceeded against in court since available records began 23 years ago.
It is the first time in 23 years that any teens have been charged with drug importation and proceeded against in court in the Canterbury Bankstown region.
Police dealt with a juvenile offender for importing drugs in 2015, and gave another a warning in 2016.
Across the state, the number of juvenile offenders charged with dealing or trafficking ecstasy also fell by 22.6 per cent in the past two years.