Kunhow Eng jailed for trying to import ice to Box Hill South, Ringwood East

A man who tried to score almost 1kg of ice being smuggled from the US has been sentenced to more than five years jail.

Police intercepted the drugs before the parcels were delivered.

A man who tried to score almost 1kg of ice being smuggled from the US has been sentenced to more than five years in jail.

Malaysian national Kunhow Eng pleaded guilty in the County Court earlier this month to two charges of attempting to possess a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug.

But Judge Patricia Riddell noted the 32-year-old’s confession had only come after his flatmate, who he had paid to collect the drug deliveries from Box Hill South and Ringwood East, agreed to give evidence against Eng in court.

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Judge Riddell said the Australian Border Force intercepted two packages containing ice on March 31, 2017.

One was addressed to a Ringwood East property and held a float pool bag and a Peppa Pig bag containing 714.4g of pure methamphetamine.

A woman living at the address then phoned police at 8.30am reporting a man named Sam had phoned her to say he would come and collect the parcel.

Police intercepted the drugs before the parcels were delivered.

Police discovered ‘Sam’ was actually Eng’s flatmate.

He was caught by police at 2pm that day in the driveway of the property where the second parcel was addressed to, a house in Haig St, Box Hill South.

Border police had earlier discovered the parcel contained 355.8g of methylamphetamine concealed inside a coax cable.

After being taken into custody, the man admitted he was being paid $400 by Eng to collect the packages on his behalf, the judge said.

Eng was arrested on June 27, 2017.

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Judge Riddell said messages on his phone discussed money, bank accounts, the delivery of the parcels and Eng being overseas for a darts competition when they were to arrive.

“Those messages reveal you were clearly aware of the nature of what was going to be imported and the illegality of your involvement,” she said.

Judge Riddell said anyone in the illegal drug trade should receive a heavy penalty, and that

Eng was sentenced to 65 months in prison with a non-parole period of 41 months, but the judge noted he had already served 506 days.

She said Eng would likely face deportation on his release.