Chinese national charged after alleged attempt to secure big meth haul
An alleged drug trafficker has been charged after he was nabbed on his way to pick up meth ingredients sent from overseas.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An accused drug trafficker was dramatically arrested at a service station after moving to pick up a big haul of meth-making chemicals from a parcel locker.
It will be alleged the man sat off an Australia Post locker at the Burwood East BP for hours before trying to collect 4kg of pseudoephedrine sent from Hong Kong.
But the package — part of a 10kg consignment sent last month — had been detected on arrival in Melbourne by Australian Border Force investigators.
They had substituted the 4kg parcel with another substance then set about monitoring its movements.
That led the officers and the man allegedly wanting to collect the pseudoephedrine, a 30-year-old Chinese national, to the BP on Burwood Rd.
The target, who had allegedly been electronically monitoring the package, moved in at 11.30 on Wednesday to make the pick-up.
ABF officers then swooped and arrested him. He was later charged with commercial quantity drug importation.
Pseudoephedrine is prized by crime syndicates, who use it in the production of methamphetamine.
The man arrested at the BP was unlawfully in Australia, an ABF statement said.
The 10kg shipment which arrived from Hong Kong had been hidden in items declared at towels and clothing.
ABF Supt Simone Mendes of the regional investigations section said the organisation was on the look-out for those trying to import precursor chemicals using an array of methods.
“Methamphetamine and other drugs have a devastating impact on individuals and our communities, which is why we are committed to prosecuting those responsible for importing it into Australia,” Supt Mendes said.
Supt Mendes said the ABF was working with other jurisdictions on operation Vitreus, which was targeting crime gangs and individuals involved in international trafficking.
Gangland gun-for-hire jailed over ‘brutal’ daylight stabbing attack
Decades after Sean Sonnet was convicted over a failed hit on underworld figure Mario Condello, it can be revealed his life of crime has continued.
Dealers caught, $1.5m drugs seized in desperate bid to clean up St Kilda
Hundreds of St Kilda’s most prolific drug dealers and users have been arrested as part of a major police sting aiming to clean up problem areas such as Acland St. See video of the operation in action.