The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have intercepted approximately 320 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $296 million, which authorities say was imported into Australia from Ghana.
According to a statement issued by the AFP, the drugs were discovered during an operation at Sydney’s Port Botany after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers detected anomalies in two shipping containers that had arrived from Ghana.
The containers were declared as carrying bags of charcoal. However, an X-ray examination of the consignment raised suspicions, prompting further inspection.
“The AFP launched an investigation after Australian Border Force officers at Sydney’s Port Botany detected anomalies in two shipping containers from Ghana,” the statement said.
“The consignment, which was purported to be bags of charcoal, was subsequently X-rayed, with ABF officers locating a white crystallised substance. Forensic testing established the consignment contained about 320kg of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $296 million.”
Authorities said the illegal drugs had been concealed within the charcoal bags in an apparent attempt to evade detection.
Following the discovery, investigators removed the narcotics and carried out a controlled delivery operation to identify those allegedly involved in the importation scheme.
According to the AFP, the shipment was transported to a storage facility in Girraween, where a United Kingdom national allegedly supervised the container’s unloading.
Some of the bags were later loaded into a vehicle and transported to a residence in Blacktown. Investigators subsequently executed a search warrant at the property and arrested the woman.
“The drugs were removed and the consignment was delivered to a storage facility in Girraween, where the UK national allegedly supervised a number of men unpacking the shipping container,” the AFP stated.
Further investigations led officers to a residence in Oakden, South Australia, where an Adelaide-based couple was arrested in connection with the case.
Police said the UK woman and the Adelaide couple have been charged over their alleged involvement in the failed drug importation operation.
The AFP noted that investigations are ongoing as authorities work to determine whether additional individuals were involved in the attempted smuggling of the methamphetamine into Australia.
See post below:
