Customs and AFP sink foot spa drug syndicate

Drugs with a potential street value of $11 million have been stopped from entering Australia after they were found inside a consignment of foot spas and massage chairs.

A 40-year-old Victorian man and a 32-year-old Canadian woman will appear in Sydney Central Local Court today, after being charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) over the discovery of 27 kilograms of cocaine and 27 kilograms of methamphetamine (ICE).

A shipping container that originated from Canada was inspected at Customs Container Examination Facility at Port Botany on 5 May, revealing anomalies inside the fibreglass frames of several foot spas.

Customs officers identified a number of parcels concealed inside the foot spas which were later identified as ICE and cocaine.

A total of 54 kilograms of drugs was recovered from the shipment by the AFP.

Customs Regional Director NSW, Gail Batman, said the detection was an excellent example of the value of Australian Customs' international network.

“Our collaboration with Canadian Customs has been crucial in detecting this major drug shipment,” she said.

AFP Sydney Office manager David Stewart said it also highlighted the international efforts underway to combat drug smuggling operations.

“This is an excellent example of multi-jurisdictional collaboration between agencies, that has stopped a 54 kilogram shipment of cocaine and methamphetamine from reaching Australia’s streets,” Commander Stewart said.

The Springvale man has been charged with importing border controlled drugs and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of cocaine and ICE.

The Ontario woman has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of cocaine and ICE.

The maximum penalty for these offences is $825,000 and/or life imprisonment.

EDITORS NOTE - A photo of one of the spa baths can be found in the media room at www.customs.gov.au