Four men across the west are facing lifetime prison sentences after a three-month Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation smashed a Melbourne drug ring.
The AFP seized nearly 15 kilograms of methamphetamine yesterday, including 10.9 kilograms hidden inside a shipment of ceramic horse statues, after executing four search warrants across Melbourne.
A 30-year-old Sierra Leone man was arrested in Truganina; a 28-year-old Liberian man was arrested in Wyndham North; a 26-year-old Liberian man was arrested in St Albans and a 21-year-old Australian national was arrested in Sunshine as part of the raids.
All four men have been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, and attempting to possess an unlawfully imported substance.
The 30-year-old man appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court yesterday and the other three men are scheduled to front the Magistrates’ Court today.
OFFICERS FOUND THE DRUGS IN IMPORTED HORSE STATUES: PICTURE: AFP
The maximum penalty for Commonwealth importation offences is life imprisonment.
The three-month investigation, dubbed Operation Conure, kicked off on November 24, 2015, when Australian Border Force officers tipped off the AFP to the consignment of ceramic horse statues, which was addressed to a Broadmeadows property.
On December 1, 2015, a controlled delivery was conducted and police identified three people of interest.
After further inquiries, AFP officers identified a fourth person – a 30-year-old Sierra Leone man – who is alleged to be the ringleader behind the horse statue importation.
The man is also believed to be linked to a 2.4 kilogram methamphetamine importation in November 2015.
Police allege all four men were operating a drug syndicate and can be linked to even more methamphetamine seizures in Melbourne, including a 1.5 kilogram methamphetamine seizure last year.
AFP Superintendent Matt Warren said police will allege that the group of men attempted to use scatter methods to import drugs into Victoria.
“These arrests are particularly significant given we have managed to charge the alleged organiser of this drug syndicate, which will stop countless more attempts to import this horrendous drug.”
