Shipment of stone contains 60kg of meth
This is a joint media release by the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and South Australia Police.
A 43-year-old South Australian man has been arrested and charged for his alleged involvement in the importation from Indonesia of approximately 60 kilograms of crystal methylamphetamine.
Operation Convive, was commenced by the AFP led National Anti-Gangs Squad (NAGS) in collaboration with international partners from Indonesian National Narcotics Board (BNN). Investigations progressed in Australia with the cooperation of the Australian Border Force (ABF) and South Australia Police (SAPOL).
Shortly before Christmas, AFP and ABF officers examined a shipment of stone products destined for Adelaide. Approximately 60 kilograms of a white crystalline substance was identified within the shipment. A presumptive test returned a positive result for crystal methylamphetamine, also known as Ice.
A seizure of this size has the potential street value of up to $40 million.
This week, police commenced a controlled delivery of the consignment to a business address in Royal Park, South Australia.
Late yesterday (Thursday), a 43-year-old man, identified as an associate of the Hells Angels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, was observed accessing the consignment. A short time later he was arrested at a residence in Flinders Park.
Search warrants were executed at the residence in Flinders Park, the business in Royal Park and a separate storage facility located in Royal Park. At the storage facility SAPOL seized approximately 10kg of cannabis, various chemicals and clandestine laboratory equipment. Offences relating to the possession of these items will be investigated by SAPOL.
AFP State Manager South Australia, Commander Peter Sykora said the seizure was the result of excellent collaboration between the AFP and domestic and international partners, such as the Indonesian BNN, to achieve a successful outcome for police and border protection agencies.
“Organised crime enterprises that seek to profit from this insidious drug and cause overwhelming harm to Australians will be disappointed to learn that their poison will not be sold on Australian streets,” Commander Sykora said.
“We are encouraged by this achievement and will continue to work with our partners nationally and internationally, to disrupt and dismantle global organised crime.”
ABF Acting Assistant Commissioner Investigations David Nockels said the ABF worked closely with the AFP, South Australia Police and BNN to develop the intelligence to target the shipping container which led to today’s arrest.
“Today’s arrest following the seizure of a significant quantity of dangerous drugs shows the value of an intelligence-led approach to targeting illegal activity at the border,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Nockels said.
South Australia Police Chief Inspector Anthony Crameri, Investigations Manager Serious & Organised Crime Branch said that Operation Convive serves as an example of partnership between organisations working together to remove this insidious drug from the streets and make the community safer.
The man was charged with the importation of a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth). He is scheduled to appear in Adelaide Magistrates court this afternoon.\
Media enquiries:
AFP Media: (02) 6131 6333
ABF Media: (02) 6264 2244
SA Police Media: (08) 7322 3848