40-year-old man in Alice Springs Local Court charged with allegedly importing 1.6kg of morphine

Morphine allegedly sent in the mail from India to Australia, labelled as skincare products has landed a Red Centre man in hot water. Find out what happened in court.

Birdavinder Singh Virk leaves Alice Springs local court on August 21, 2024. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Morphine allegedly sent in the mail from India to Australia and branded as skincare products has landed a Red Centre man in hot water – with the Australian Border Force (ABF) laying drug importation charges against him.

Birdavinder Singh Virk fronted Alice Springs local court on August 21.

He is charged with one count of import/export border control drugs.

Both his defence lawyer Michael Penman and DPP prosecutor Madeline Grant sought an adjournment for the matter.

Judge Sarah McNamara granted their request, adjourning the matter to October 9.

Earlier, the ABF in a statement said a 40-year-old man would front Alice Springs Local Court on Wednesday.

They alleged Mr Virk had tried to import 1.6kg of morphine into the Red Centre.

The morphine allegedly sent in the mail from India to Alice Springs. Picture: ABF

Mr Virk faces a maximum of 10 years in prison if found guilty, and has been charged with importing/exporting controlled drugs, the ABF said.

The investigation began in July after the morphine was detected in international mail en route to the Red Centre from India via Sydney, the ABF said.

“The goods were described as skin care products and health care items,” the ABF said.

“Following inquiries, officers from the ABF and NT Police, executed a search warrant at an Alice Springs address on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, where they located and seized material of evidentiary value, including mobile phones.”