CANBERRA, Australia – Two customs agents and an information technology worker appeared in a court Thursday charged with drug offenses over Australia’s largest seizure of methamphetamine, which had been smuggled to Melbourne from Bangkok in stereo speakers.
Police estimate the 1.7 tons of the drug, also known as ice or crystal meth, had a street value of $818 million. The 82 pounds of heroin also seized was the largest haul of that drug in Australia since 2017, police said.
“It’s almost a quarter of the annual usage in Australia, so this will have an impact,” Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan told reporters, referring to the crystal meth.
Married customs agents Rachel Cachia, 37, and Donovan Rodrigues, 38, appeared with Stephen Mizzi, 37, in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on drug importation charges that carry potential life prison sentences.
They did not enter pleas or apply for bail. They will remain in custody until they appear in court next on May 7.
