SYDNEY: Australian Federal Police (AFP) have alleged the drugs worth $3.5 million were transported from China to Sydney where they were detected by customs officials during a routine freight-inspection in December.
Matthew Varley from the AFP said members of the drug-syndicate then contacted a freight company 10 days ago to get the shipment sent to Adelaide.
“We set up a covert operation if you like to entice the recipients here in South Australia to accept delivery of that consignment,” Commander Varley said.
“What they didn’t realise is that they were talking to the police.”
A 27-year-old Adelaide man and a 37-year-old Perth man have been charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.
Following the Adelaide man’s arrest, police searched his Valley View home and seized a number of items including $14,500 in cash.
Commander Varley said investigations were continuing to identify other members in the syndicate.
“Preventing 16 kilograms of a dangerous and addictive drug from reaching the community is a positive result, and we will be liaising with our colleagues interstate and internationally to further investigate and disrupt the organisers of this importation,” Commander Varley said.
