Victorian man arrested over alleged plot to smuggle $192m of meth inside gas heater shipment

A Victorian man may face life in prison over an alleged plot by an organised crime syndicate to smuggle 214kg of meth inside a shipment of gas heaters.

AFP officers arrest a Victorian man over his alleged involvement in an international crime syndicate's attempt to smuggle meth inside gas heaters. Picture: AFP

A Victorian man at the centre of a huge meth bust uncovered by federal authorities in Sydney is facing life in prison.

Investigators say the 31-year-old man was involved in a plot by an international organised crime syndicate to import 214kg of methamphetamine allegedly hidden inside a shipment of gas heaters.

The shipment is believed to be worth more than $192m and could have made more than three million individual street deals.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) raided the man’s home on June 22 where he was arrested.

He has been charged with attempting to possess the large haul, which was sent from Malaysia in December last year and which carries a maximum term of life imprisonment.

AFP Commander Kate Ferry says preventing the meth shipment is a ‘significant win’ against the international illegal drug trade. Picture: Monique Harmer

He was arrested last month and is the second person to be charged over the shipment, which AFP and Australian Border Force (ABF) officers discovered in South Australia.

Investigators uncovered the drugs while inspecting the heaters, which had the illegal shipment inside.

The AFP also raided a NSW property which received part of the shipment, and alleged the Victorian man visited the premises twice to collect items from the delivery to transport them to a Bella Vista property in north west Sydney.

A 35-year-old man was then arrested at the Bella Vista property and charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug.

AFP Commander Kate Ferry said preventing the meth shipment was a “significant win” against the international illegal drug trade.

A heater in which bags of drugs were hidden in an alleged bid to smuggle them across the border. Picture: AFP

“It is testament to the AFP’s cooperation with ABF and other partners, in particular the Royal Malaysian Police and Customs Department,” she said.

“Transnational organised crime networks that supply these substances pose a significant threat to Australia’s economy, our security and our way of life.

“Methamphetamine use contributes to road crashes, violence in our suburbs and in our homes.

The Victorian man fronted the Heidelberg Magistrates Court before he was extradited to Sydney to appear at the Sydney Downing Centre on Friday (today).

“The AFP is working tirelessly to protect Australians from the harm caused by these illicit drugs and ensure these transnational crime groups do not profit at the expense of our communities.

ABF Acting Superintendent Tom Williams said the force tried to protect Australia from criminals who attempted to smuggle drugs into Australia in lucrative ways.

“Australia’s border is a critical national asset. We are acutely conscious of this fact and committed to protecting it and ensuring criminals fail in their attempts to undermine its integrity,” he said.