Seven charged over 166 kilogram US drug seizure

Seven people will face Melbourne Magistrates Court today over the attempted importation of more than 166 kilograms of drugs concealed in a consignment of massage chairs and spa baths.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) agents arrested three people from Sydney, three from Melbourne and a Canadian National in Melbourne on Saturday, 12 July.

United States authorities discovered and removed the 93 kilograms of MDMA (ecstasy), 46 kilograms of cocaine and 27 kilograms of methylamphetamine (ICE), with an estimated Australian street value of more than $31 million, in a container en route to Australia from Canada in May.

Customs officers assisted the AFP with technical expertise once the cargo arrived at the Port of Melbourne.

AFP agents monitored the consignment to a Sunshine address in Melbourne’s west and executed warrants at premises in the Melbourne suburbs of Sunshine, Laverton, Brooklyn and Footscray.

A 24-year-old man from Preston in Sydney, a 31-year-old woman from Springvale in Melbourne, a 40-year-old Canadian national and a 49-year-old man from Laverton North in Melbourne were charged with attempting to import and attempting to possess commercial quantities of MDMA, cocaine and methylamphetamine.

A 23-year-old woman from Padstow in Sydney, a 23-year-old man from Punchbowl in Sydney and a 31-year-old man from Brooklyn in Melbourne were charged with attempting to possess commercial quantities of MDMA, cocaine and methylamphetamine.

AFP National Manager Border and International Tim Morris said the arrest of seven people on Saturday was a significant result.

“The range of illegal commodities within this consignment and the work of the US authorities highlight the organised nature of international drug smuggling and the priority it is given by the AFP and law enforcement internationally,” Assistant Commissioner Morris said.

“This seizure has saved the Australian community more than $48 million in associated health and social costs and the AFP will continue to work with its partners in Australia and around the world to combat the trade in illicit narcotics.”

 Customs Regional Director Victoria Tonie Differding said Customs would continue to work with its partner agencies to disrupt the activities of illegal drug traffickers.

 “This seizure should send a strong warning to other potential importers of illegal drugs that, no matter how sophisticated the concealment, their shipments will be intercepted,” Ms Differding said.

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