A Kings Park man faces life in prison following a joint federal-state police operation that uncovered 50 kilograms of “ice” with a street value of $50 million.
The 33-year-old man was last week charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, and attempting to possess commercial quantities of a border-controlled drug.
The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.
The AFP joined with Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS), the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) and Victoria Police after customs intercepted and X-rayed a consignment of 70 boxes of porcelain toilets at the Melbourne Container Examination Facility on July 25.
A statement released by the AFP said it would be alleged in court that boxes from the consignment containing the methamphetamine were moved to the Kings Park residence of the 33-year-old man’s mother.
AFP and Victoria Police members executed search warrants on six premises in Kings Park, Taylors Hill, Southbank, South Melbourne and Tullamarine, also seizing about $70,000 cash and three casino chips valued at $1000 each.
Victoria Police Crime Command assistant commissioner Stephen Fontana said the operation sent a strong message to those involved in the illicit drug trade.
“Australian law enforcement agencies are more united than ever,” he said. “We will continue to … aggressively pursue anyone who takes part in illegal activity.”
Charlene Macaulay
