A man has been charged after police intercepted 100kg of methamphetamine hidden in dozens of leather sandals.
The Australian Federal Police launched Operation Birkin in April after Border Patrol officers intercepted a shipment of six boxes from Thailand.
After the boxes arrived at Sydney’s Port Botany, officers found 100kg of meth hidden in the soles of black leather shoes.
A man has been charged after Australian Federal Police and Border Patrol intercepted 100 kilos of methamphetamine hidden in leather sandals
Researchers have yet to determine the exact purity and weight of the substance in the sandals
The shipment was addressed to a storage facility in western Sydney used by a freight forwarder, an AFP statement said.
During the investigation, the AFP undertook a ‘controlled operation’ in which officers allegedly observed a Malaysian national attempting to collect the boxes using a fake ID on May 6.
The man was unable to collect the shipment before he was spotted driving south on the Hume Highway towards Melbourne.
Investigators found the man on Thursday and executed a search warrant at his home in the Melbourne suburb of Burwood.
Two mobile devices were seized, with investigators claiming they were used to facilitate the import, as well as the fake license.
A 49-year-old was arrested and two mobile devices were seized. Investigators claimed these were used to facilitate the import, as well as the fake license
The man appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday morning and was denied bail. He will appear in court again on August 30
Police have also seized a number of electronic devices that will be examined.
The 49-year-old man was charged with attempted possession of a commercial quantity of meth, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Researchers have yet to determine the exact purity and weight of the substance in the sandals.
The man appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday morning and was denied bail.
He will appear in court again on August 30.
AFP Sergeant Alex Drummond said the AFP is committed to ensuring dangerous drugs do not end up on Australian streets.
“The AFP will continue to work tirelessly to keep these dangerous drugs off the streets and ensure those determined to poison the community see justice,” he said.
Six boxes from Thailand arrived at Sydney’s Port Botany, where officers found 100kg of meth hidden in the soles of black leather sandals
The 49-year-old man was charged with attempted possession of a commercial quantity of meth, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
“We will allege that this man was prepared to drive to Sydney at short notice to collect this shipment, but the AFP stopped the further distribution of these drugs, preventing millions of dollars from entering the criminal economy. ‘
ABF inspector Marc Rea said the rapid response following the detection was testament to the strength of the partnership.
“Organized criminal syndicates are doing everything they can to smuggle these dangerous substances across our border,” he said.
“ABF officers quickly noticed the anomalies in this shipment and identified a large quantity of methamphetamine, amounting to approximately one million individual street deals.
“That’s $92 million worth of this insidious drug that won’t end up on the streets. ABF officers will continue to work closely with our federal and state partners to keep Australians safe.”