Sammy and Gabriel Raheb charged after investigation into parcels arriving from China
A father and son have been arrested and charged after an investigation into suspicious parcels arriving from China by post.
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A father and son have been arrested by federal police after an investigation into suspicious material arriving from China.
Sammy Raheb, 54, and Gabriel Raheb, 25, were both charged by the Australian Federal Police.
The father was hit with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a methamphetamine precursor while the son was hit with one count of possessing child abuse material on November 11.
Both men appeared before Downing Centre Local Court the following day, however, the father did not appear before the same court on Wednesday.
The AFP established the investigation in August after Australian Border Force officers at the Sydney Gateway Facility located 4.5kg of border controlled drug Nisopropylbenzlamine, a methamphetamine precursor, which had been sent in an international mail package from China.
The execution of search warrants followed at two properties in Kellyville and Castle Hill on November 11.
Investigators seized two phones with one allegedly containing images of the manufacture of a white crystalline substance and a screenshot of instructions suspected to relate to the manufacture of drugs.
The AFP allege investigators heard the 54-year-old father flushing a toilet and observed a substance, suspected to be methamphetamine, located nearby. He was arrested and charged.
Investigators located a laptop allegedly containing child abuse material and a large quantity of illegal drug precursors at the Castle Hill unit.
The 25-year-old son was also arrested and charged.
Raheb’s lawyer told the court on Wednesday her client was required to appear via video link, asking Magistrate Daniel Covington to adjourn the matter for two weeks.
He said his client would be making a release application on the next occasion, which was accepted by Mr Covington.
The matter was ultimately adjourned to December 11 with his son, Gabriel, due to appear at the same court at a later date.
AFP Superintendent Peter Fogarty said the AFP worked closely with the ABF and other partners to combat criminal syndicates which attempted to smuggle illegal drugs into Australia and then supply them to the community.
“Methamphetamine, like all illicit drugs, causes psychological, financial and social harm to users, their loved ones, and the broader community,” he said.
“While most airmail or air cargo imports might seem like relatively small amounts of illicit substances – anywhere from five grams to several kilograms – combined, they equate to millions of individual street deals that cause significant harm to the community.”
ABF Acting Commander Asha Patwardhan said the charges sent a clear message to the community.
“Our officers are dedicated to preventing community harm, whether that be from illicit drugs or child abuse material,” she said.
“We will continue working in lock-step with AFP and other partners to detect and disrupt these activities, and ensure that those engaging in them face the full legal consequences.”
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