Man bailed after alleged $1 million ice trafficking operation via post

A Bellerive man has been bailed after he and a Goodwood woman allegedly trafficked $1 million of the drug ice into Tasmania via Australia Post parcels.

Tasmania Police supplied this image of the drug ice allegedly found in mail packages.

A BELLERIVE man has been released on bail after allegedly smuggling what police claim was $1 million worth of the drug ice into Tasmania via Australia Post parcels.

Following a police raid on Wednesday night, Joshua James Barda, 25, and Goodwood woman Lisa Lyn Harwood, 32, were charged with trafficking 1kg of methylamphetamine from Melbourne to Hobart by post.

Police said drug investigators and the dog squad seized the ice at the Mornington mail centre before officers conducted searches and uncovered further evidence.

Mr Barda and Ms Harwood faced the Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday, with Magistrate Reg Marron releasing Mr Barda on bail but refusing Ms Harwood’s application.

Neither has entered a plea after being charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, which has a penalty of up to 21 years’ jail. Mr Barda will return to court on August 6, while Ms Harwood — who has been remanded in custody — will reappear on July 10.

Tasmania Police say 1kg of ice, sold in Tasmania in points, would currently have a street value of $1 million, or fetch $500,000 if sold in grams.

Commander Tony Cerritelli told journalists yesterday the inflated prices were due to shortages caused by COVID-19 restrictions.

“In essence, potentially 10,000 individual deal bags have been intercepted by police and removed from the public, which is a really significant result, and it’s further evidence of protecting our community,” he said.

“The seizure of $1 million worth last night should again send a message to criminals involved bringing drugs into the state that we’re actively focused on intercepting and seizing these harmful substances.”

Commander Cerritelli said the current alleged ice trafficking had not been a “prolonged activity”, but had occurred over the course of a month.

“This has been a very agile investigation and it’s resulted in ramping up this operation very quickly,” he said.

He said despite COVID-19 restrictions, police had not been diverted from their “core business”, and were working with other organisations to ensure air, sea and mail corridors were not being exploited by drug traffickers.