Fawkner man Elias Hamwi charged over $41m liquid meth importation

A man with suspected links to Middle Eastern organised crime has been charged after importing 500 litres of liquid methamphetamine.

A man with links to Middle Eastern organised crime faces life in prison after he was allegedly caught importing 500 litres of liquid methamphetamine in vinegar bottles.

Elias Hamwi, 43, from Fawkner, was charged with importing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of methamphetamine following an eight week investigation.

Police allege the drugs had a street value of more than $41.6 million.

It is alleged Australian Border Force officers found the methamphetamine concealed in a shipping container of food products labelled as jams, vinegars and sauces, that arrived from Turkey on February 8.

Hamwi appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning.

Anomalies were detected in X-rays by astute officers before a physical examination found a crystal substance in the plastic barrels’ base.

“It is brazen,” Australian Border Force Superintendent Tori Rosemond said.

“People think they are going to get away with it. Our officers are highly trained and will pick that up every time.”

The items had been packaged in a larger shipment of food products originally sent from Northern Iraq by road to Turkey.

Police executed search warrants at a Fawkner home as well as a Bentleigh East commercial property on Wednesday.

Two gel blasters and a number of mobile phones were seized.

Mr Hamwi appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Wearing a grey jumper, he showed little emotion as he was brought into the dock by two custody officers.

Anomalies were identified in plastic barrels of white vinegar imported into Melbourne from Turkey on February 8.

No details of his alleged offending were aired during the brief administrative hearing.

Prosecutors were granted 12 weeks to prepare the brief of evidence for the case - six weeks more than the usual allocation - to allow time for international and interstate inquiries to be made.

Listening devices and translations will also form part of the evidence.

Mr Hamwi did not apply for bail and will return to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on August 10 for a committal mention.

Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Anthony Hall said: “Drug importation by criminal syndicates earns them huge profits that funds their next illegal venture. It also contributes to them living lavish lifestyles while law-abiding Australians work hard to pay their bills.”

The investigation is ongoing.