Man arrested at gunpoint in Maroubra Surf Club car park over alleged 60kg meth importation

A 36-year-old man from Liverpool has been charged with attempting to collect 60kg of methamphetamine, hidden in a vehicle in a Maroubra car park. Watch the arrest.

Dramatic scenes in the car park of Maroubra Surf Club have seen a man arrested at gunpoint over an alleged attempt to collect 60kg of methamphetamine.

Richard Prothero, 36, who is scheduled to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, faces charges in connection with the attempted importation of a commercial quantity of methamphetamine into NSW.

In September 2024, US authorities intercepted a shipment containing 95kg of methamphetamine destined for Sydney from Los Angeles.

The drugs were removed before the consignment left the United States, but a joint investigation with the AFP tracked the delivery to Australia.

The AFP arranged for harmless substitute packages weighing 60kg to be placed in a vehicle in a public car park in Maroubra. The street value would have been $55 million.

A man has been arrested in the car park of Maroubra Surf Club and charged over his alleged role in the attempted importation of 60kg of meth. Picture: AFP

The man was arrested at gunpoint on Tuesday in Maroubra. Picture: AFP

On Tuesday morning, the Liverpool man was allegedly seen retrieving a key from under the vehicle’s bumper, before getting inside and starting the engine.

He was arrested moments later.

Police uncovered 60kg of methamphetamine. Picture: AFP

A subsequent search of a second vehicle led police to seize approximately $100,000 in cash, prepaid SIM cards, a phone and an iPad.

Further searches at Prothero’s Liverpool residence uncovered small quantities of drugs and a CCTV system.

The 36-year-old has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

AFP Detective Superintendent Kristie Cressy said the 60kg of methamphetamine involved could have yielded 600,000 street deals.

The man was ambushed by officers after he got inside the vehicle. Picture: AFP

“Methamphetamine, like all illicit drugs, causes psychological, financial, and social harm to users, their loved ones, and the broader community,” Det-Supt Cressy said.

“Criminals do not care about the harm they cause, they are motivated by the profits they can make.

Investigators also found about $100,000 in cash. Picture: AFP

“Across Australia, there were 10,100 methamphetamine-related hospitalisations in 2021-2022 – which equates to more than 27 every day on average. This has an impact on the health system that can negatively affect the entire community.

“Investigations like this show the resolve and relentlessness of our investigators in making

Australia a hostile environment for organised crime.”

Investigations are ongoing.

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