Sydney drug bust: Two men arrested in Old Guildford over Iran meth shipment
Two men charged with smuggling more than $80 million worth of liquid methylamphetamine concealed in water bottles have faced court.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Two men charged over the alleged importation of more than $80 million worth of liquid methylamphetamine concealed in water bottles will defend the charges, a Sydney court has heard.
Majid Omrieh, 48, of West Ryde, and Mehran Neamat, 33, of Guildford, were arrested and charged after Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police officers intercepted a shipment which arrived in Sydney from Iran earlier this month.
Police allege the consignment contained nearly 160 litres of a clear liquid, which was tested and returned a presumptive positive result for methylamphetamine.
On Thursday morning, detectives swooped on a business in Old Guildford and arrested the two men.
They were both charged with import commercial quantity of border controlled drug, possess commercial quantity of unlawful import (border controlled drug), and supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).
Their solicitors today applied for their release on bail, saying both men will defend the charges, however, pleas have yet to be formally entered.
Mr Neamat’s solicitor said his client had lived in Australia for 25 years and it was his first time in custody, with no issues of non-compliance against his name.
He argued the prosecution’s case suffered from “significant deficiencies” based on a police fact sheet tendered to court.
“There is no direct evidence and there is no single piece of circumstantial evidence” that Mr Neamat had “the requisite knowledge that would point to this offence”, he said.
Mr Omrieh’s solicitor echoed the claims, saying the Crown had “problems” if the fact sheet was taken “at its highest”.
He said there was no direct or circumstantial evidence to show his client, who was also in custody for the first time, had knowledge of the drugs allegedly contained in the shipment.
Magistrate Brett Thomas refused bail, citing the nature and seriousness of the allegations.
“I’m not prepared to say it’s a weak or strong case,” he said.
The matter was adjourned to June 17 at Central Local Court.
Originally published as Sydney drug bust: Two men arrested in Old Guildford over Iran meth shipment
Frantic search: Man missing in surf after Boxing Day swim
A young man is presumed to be missing in the ocean on the state’s North Coast after a Boxing Day swim, with a search and rescue mission currently underway. Here’s what we know.
Experienced sailors who died during Sydney to Hobart identified
Two experienced sailors died of head injuries in separate incidents during the Sydney to Hobart race. Police are now working to figure out how the tragedies occurred.