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12 February 2016, 8:57am
Media Release

Man arrested for importing methamphetamine

This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force

A 27-year-old Sydenham man is scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court today charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with importing approximately 23 kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia.

In August 2015, two sea cargo consignments were examined by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at the Melbourne Container Examination Facility. 

ABF officers examined the first consignment that contained seven refrigerators and nine microwave ovens shipped from China. As a result of an inconsistency in an x-ray image, ABF officers examined the refrigerator, finding a package containing a white powder that presumptively tested positive for methamphetamine.

Upon referral to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), an examination of the entire consignment revealed 69 packages containing a crystalline substance. Initial testing indicated a total weight of approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine.

ABF officers subsequently examined the second targeted consignment consisting of 50 DVD players and 21 televisions shipped from China. Further examination revealed several packages inside the DVD players containing white powder which tested presumptively positive for methamphetamine with a total weight of approximately 13 kilograms. 

Following further investigation, on 11 February 2016, AFP officers attended an address in Sydenham, Victoria, and arrested the 27-year-old man.

He was charged with:
- two counts of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- two counts of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to subsection 11.1(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).

The maximum penalty for this offence is a $1,350,000 fine and/or life imprisonment.

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