Practically 200 kgs of cocaine despatched by mail to an handle in Queensland has been intercepted after a joint Australian Federal Police and Australia Put up sting.
In a press release, the AFP mentioned that the unlawful drug scheme, amounting to greater than half a tonne, was despatched in over 160 packages throughout 9 months.
In complete, authorities mentioned they seized 203kg of methamphetamine, greater than 180kg of cocaine, 48kg of heroin, 26kg of GBL, 4kg of opium and greater than 5,5kg of ketamine.
They mentioned the joint effort started in Could final 12 months, when an Australia Put up safety liaison officer was embedded with the AFP in Brisbane.
It is understood the medicine have been hidden in various objects, together with candles, clothes, books and digital gear.
AFP Detective Superintendent Helen Schneider mentioned the operation had given authorities “worthwhile” intelligence into legal syndicates, together with the usage of vacant heaps and short-term lodging for imports.
“The flexibility for our investigators to entry real-time intelligence from Australia Put up has enabled the AFP to hint legal networks and disrupt them swiftly,” Superintendent Schneider mentioned.
“It additionally impacts on the Australian economic system as a result of drug traffickers launder cash by our monetary methods and sometimes improve their wealth by investing their illicit cash, permitting them to bankroll extra severe crime,” she mentioned.
“This operation has given us worthwhile intelligence about these teams, together with that legal syndicates typically nominate an incorrect handle, corresponding to vacant heaps or short-term leases as locations for shipments.”
The AFP mentioned they have been “actively concentrating on” mail and air cargo.
“Whereas most airmail or air cargo imports may appear to be comparatively small quantities of illicit substances – anyplace from 5 grams to a number of kilograms – mixed, they equate to tens of millions of particular person road offers that trigger vital hurt to the group,” Superintendent Schneider mentioned.
A 28-year-old Brisbane man, who allegedly imported cocaine within the cardboard lining of a garments parcel, has been charged with drug importation and possession offences, the AFP mentioned.
A Cairns man, 30, was additionally charged after police allege he was despatched a kilo of ketamine in bathtub towels, and a German man, 61, was charged after he was allegedly caught importing greater than two kilos of cocaine in youngsters’s books and occasional baggage.
A 36-year-old Logan man was additionally charged.
They’re anticipated to face the Brisbane Magistrates Court docket in March and April.
