The 27-year-old and a 36-year-old Bexley man were arrested last Thursday after Australian Federal Police officers conducted a controlled delivery of the consignment to an address in Guildford West.
The investigation began in March 2021 when a consignment labelled as mop buckets, was examined by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers in Sydney and revealed 18 wooden pallets had methamphetamine concealed within the wooden slats, with approximately 63 kilograms uncovered.
The two men were charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.
Australian Federal Police acting Commander Crime Geoff Turner said despite the creativity offenders displayed when trying to import drugs into the country, Australian authorities were one-step ahead.
“You name it; they’ve tried to hide drugs in it. Nevertheless, we are dedicated to stopping these harmful drugs reaching our communities and harming countless Australians,” he said.
Couple, man arrested over illegal gun supply
A man from Guildford West faces 45 charges including unlawfully sell firearms and supply pistol, as part of an ongoing investigation into the supply of illegal firearms.
A couple from Cherrybrook were also charged, with the 77-year-old man charged with 18 firearm and drug related charges including unlawfully selling firearms, taking part in the manufacture of prohibited drug greater than commercial quantity, and knowingly direct a criminal group, while the woman, 41, was charged with 45 firearm related offences including unlawfully selling firearms and participating in a criminal group and contribute to criminal activity.
In May 2020, the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Digil to investigate a criminal syndicate selling illegal firearms and following extensive investigations raided three homes last week.
So far, the investigation has seen detectives allegedly seize 14 handguns with a street value of $200,000.
Investigators also allegedly received information connecting the same criminal group to a clandestine laboratory that was located by police last April.
‘Attempted murder’ charge over stabbing
A MAN was charged with attempted murder after police found a 44-year-old man with wounds to his stomach inside a car on Happ Street, Auburn, about 1.30am last Monday.
He was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital in a serious condition.
Police arrested a 54-year-old man at a premise in Alice Street, Auburn, about 2.50pm, and charged him with cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder.
