Police on high alert as foreign dealers post drugs to Australia
A French tourist who posted heroin to a hostel in Victoria ahead of the notorious Rainbow Serpent Festival is part of a growing trend of dealers mailing drugs to Australia from overseas.
Law & Order
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International tourists are mailing drugs into Australia before they arrive here, then selling them at music festivals and similar events to illegally fund their stay.
Large quantities of drugs mailed from abroad have been seized at postal centres, and police say it is a growing problem.
A French tourist posted heroin to his backpacker’s accommodation ahead of the notorious Rainbow Serpent Festival in rural Victoria.
Authorities became suspicious of the 30-year-old during a baggage examination at Melbourne Airport on January 18. The inspection led police to his CBD hostel, where a parcel containing heroin was found.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing heroin and was deported last month.
Detective Superintendent Deb Robertson from Taskforce Icarus said: “He had posted the articles before he arrived and intended to pick them up and traffic them at the festival, no doubt to fund his trip.
“He’s probably not Robinson Crusoe but he is one we have identified that has set up this business model. I would think he’s not the only person doing that.”
Supt Robertson said the mail was being used as a “significant courier” of drugs in Melbourne.
Authorities seized 1830 drug parcels at Australia Post’s Melbourne Gateway centre between December and March this year.
Among the parcels, 247 contained methamphetamine, 517 contained steroids, 440 contained cannabis and 354 contained ecstasy, cocaine or heroin.
Biscuit boxes, toys, candles and Milo tins were used to conceal the drugs.
Supt Robertson warned those posting drugs that they could expect to face the consequences.
People from “all walks of life” were involved in the illicit drug trade and mid-level traffickers were of particular concern, she said.
“We often think it’s uni kids, but it’s not just uni kids that see it as a lucrative operation,” she said. “There is money to be made.”
Australian Border Force Victorian Regional Commander Craig Palmer said his officers were targeting international mail for prohibited items, including drugs.
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“There are high levels of co-operation between law enforcement agencies and industry to detect and disrupt the supply of illicit drugs in the mail stream,” he said.
Australia Post’s general manager of group security, Kevin Zuccato, said the postal service worked with national and international law enforcement agencies to prevent contraband from entering the country.