Media Release: Man arrested over heroin in whiteboard markers
Release Date: Saturday, May 26 2012, 09:58 AM
A 37-year-old Cabramatta man is scheduled to appear in Parramatta Court today charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with allegedly importing approximately 2.4kg of heroin into Australia.
On 22 May 2012, Customs and Border Protection officers at the Sydney Gateway International Mail Facility examined a consignment which had arrived in Australia from Vietnam a day earlier, addressed to a residence in South Granville, NSW.
The consignment contained 20 boxes of whiteboard markers and business cards which were examined by Customs and Border Protection, revealing anomalies within the markers.
Further examination revealed a compressed white powdered substance concealed in the markers. The substance presumptively tested positive for heroin.
Customs and Border Protection then referred the matter to the AFP for further investigation.
On 25 May 2012, the AFP conducted a controlled delivery to a residence in South Granville, NSW. Following the delivery, the AFP charged the man with the following:
- Attempt to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely heroin, contrary to Section 307.6(1), by virtue of Section 11.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment and/or an $550,000 fine.
Media enquiries:
AFP National Media (02) 6131 6333
Customs and Border Protection Media (02) 6275 6793