Man charged after allegedly importing 4.5kg of MDMA into Sydney

A man has been charged after Australian Border Force officials intercepted a massive quantity of MDMA concealed in a Christmas Day air cargo.

A Bankstown man has been charged with importing $675,000 worth of MDMA. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Police have charged a man over the alleged Christmas Day importation of almost $700,000 of liquid MDMA concealed in wine bottles.

Australian Border Force officials were acting on a tip-off when they intercepted a package that arrived in Sydney from the UK on December 25 that led to the discovery of 4.5kg of liquid MDMA.

The MDMA’s total street value is estimated to be $675,000.

Border Force officers noted inconsistencies in the air cargo consignment that was declared as a package of wine bottles.

Redfern RES detectives have charged a man as part of ongoing investigations into the alleged importation of $675,000 worth of liquid MDMA concealed in wine bottles. Picture: NSW Police

The package was deconstructed and testing was administered on clear liquid within the consignment. A presumptive positive result for MDMA was detected.

Officers from Redfern Region Enforcement Squad (RES), under Strike Force Dices, used the consignment and executed a controlled delivery.

Police later stopped a vehicle on Lang Road, Moore Park, southeast of the Sydney CBD, just before 11.30am on Thursday. There, they arrested 63-year-old man Bankstown man Gueorgui Dimitriov.

Officers subsequently executed two search warrants at a restaurant at Woollahra and a home at Bankstown.

Investigators also seized more than $25,800 in cash and electronic devices for examination.

Australian Border Force officers intercepted the wine and found 4.5kg of clear liquid that was tested and returned a positive result for MDMA. Picture: NSW Police

Mr Dimitriov was taken to Surry Hills police station and charged with possessing a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported drug.

He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Friday.