Underbelly star charged over 112kg methamphetamine seizure
A former child actor who starred in a Hollywood blockbuster and several hit television shows has been charged over the alleged importation of 112kg of methamphetamine.
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A Sydney actor who starred in a Hollywood blockbuster and several hit television shows has been charged over the alleged importation of 112kg of methamphetamine.
Jarin Towney, 24, who secured his big break in Mel Gibson’s 2016 film Hacksaw Ridge, was arrested at a storage facility in Yagoona on Wednesday where police allege the highly illegal drugs were hidden after being imported from China.
Australian Federal Police officers discovered the container load of drugs concealed among machinery equipment when it arrived at the docks in Melbourne on July 5.
Officers then surveilled the shipment when it was picked up by a logistics company on July 18 and taken to a factory in Sydney’s south-west.
Towney, who has appeared in hit television shows Underbelly and Packed to the Rafters, was arrested when police raided the factory and charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.
He appeared in the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday where bail was formally refused, and will remain in custody until at least September 13.
Police raided the factory and allegedly found tightly bound packages of methamphetamine, a disused clandestine lab as well as drug manufacturing equipment.
A small amount of illegal drugs were also allegedly found inside Towney’s Surry Hills apartment which was also raided.
AFP Detective Superintendent Anthony Hall said this amount of methamphetamine had the potential to wreak havoc on Australian streets.
“This amount of methamphetamine could be broken down into about 1 million individual hits on the streets,” Detective Superintendent Hall said.
“Every single one of those hits had the potential to cause death or serious harm, not to mention significant healthcare system costs and devastating impacts on families affected by illicit drug use.
He said methamphetamine is a “horrific drug” that has been linked to some of the worse crimes across the country.
“On average, 33 people were hospitalised each day in Australia for methamphetamine-related incidents in 2020-21.*
ABF Commander Clint Sims said officers are detecting and seizing enormous amounts of drugs, and disrupting criminal activity at the border before it gets any further.
“These substances cause real harm to people and that’s why ABF officers dedicate themselves to maintaining the integrity of the border and creating a hostile environment for criminals,” he said.
Towney was nominated for an ASTRA Award in 2015 for most outstanding new talent following his appearance in TV series Devil’s Playground.
According to his online acting profile, Towney appeared in three episodes of Underbelly in 2011.
He also featured in the 2012 movie Two Little Boys starring Hamish Black, then landed roles in TV series Devil’s Playground and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries.
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