Parcel post leads to $2.1 million heroin seizure and arrest

This is a joint media release incorporating Australian Federal Police, NSW Police Force, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, the Australian Crime Commission and the NSW Crime Commission

A 25-year-old man will appear in a Sydney court today charged with importing a border controlled substance, namely heroin.

About 11.45am yesterday, the Australiancitizen was arrested by operatives from the Joint Asian Crime Group (JACG) at the Broadway Post Office where he picked up a parcel.

Police conveyed the man to AFP Sydney office where an inspection of the parcel revealed three blocks wrapped in black electrical tape and denim jeans.

Police will allege in court that the blocks measured approximately 15cm x 10cm and contained a powder weighing approximately 2 kilograms.

Presumptive testing of the powder indicated the presence of heroin. The substance is the subject of further forensic testing to determine the purity.

The powder has an estimated potential street value of $2.1 million.

JACG operatives conducted a search of his car parked at the shopping centre, and seized documents.

The man was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Bail Court today charged with import commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, and possess a commercial quantity of an unlawful import (border controlled).

Overnight, search warrants were executed at his residential unit in Rhodes, as well as a relative’s house in Fairfield.

The JACG is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary unit comprising the AFP, NSW Police Force, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, the Australian Crime Commission and the NSW Crime Commission.

The specialist expertise of its member agencies is used to target major organised criminal activity of Asian syndicates in NSW.

The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.