Raymond Terrace: AFP charge Justin Allan Crooks with attempting to possess 99kg of methamphetamine

A Hunter man has been charged with attempting to possess 99kg of meth – which authorities estimate had a street value of $91m and equated to almost one million street level deals – following a three-month investigation.

The 99kg of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of $91m, was allegedly seized by Australian Border Force officers inside a package from China. Picture: AFP.

The cavalry arrived at the modest home belonging to Justin Crooks almost four weeks after he was allegedly seen wandering into a western Sydney storage unit and handling some boxes which had arrived from China a few months earlier.

Police allege the consignment had been labelled “universal transmission gears” when Australian Border Force officials decided to take a closer look after it arrived in Sydney in October last year.

Inside, Australian Federal Police will allege there was 99kg of methamphetamine – an amount they further allege had an estimated street value of $91m and equated to just under one million street level deals.

The “ice” was removed and the consignment of gearboxes continued on to its planned destination.

Authorities will allege they sat off the storage facility at Girraween before watching Crooks – full name Justin Allan Crooks – access the unit on January 3.

Justin Allan Crooks, 39, is arrested by Australian Federal Police at his Raymond Terrace home on January 30. Picture: AFP.

They will also allege they saw Crooks, 39, “handling associated boxes and wrapping”.

Some 27 days later, AFP officers raided Crooks’ home at Raymond Terrace, north of Newcastle, and allegedly seized items including a mobile phone, cash, a replica firearm, prohibited weapons and suspected drugs.

Authorities tested the packages from China. Picture: AFP.

Crooks was taken into custody, walked out of home in handcuffs and placed into a police vehicle for a trip to the town’s police station.

He was later charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of methamphetamine, a charge which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Crooks faced Raymond Terrace Local Court on the same day, where he was not required to enter a plea and did not make a release application.

Magistrate Gregory Moore formally refused Crooks’ bail and he was remanded in custody.

He will appear in Penrith Local Court on Friday.