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16 September 2020, 10:00am
Media Release

Two Perth men charged over alleged methamphetamine mail importations

This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force

A Booragoon man is expected to face Perth Magistrate's Court today (Wednesday, 16 September) charged over the alleged importation of 93 grams of methamphetamine hidden in a packet of coffee sachets sent from Malaysia.

The 19-year-old is the second Perth resident to be charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in three weeks over illicit drugs being sent in mail packages from Malaysia.

AFP officers arrested the 19-year-old yesterday (15 September) after launching an investigation on 9 September, when Australian Border Force (ABF) officers found the illicit drugs in an air cargo consignment.

An X-ray revealed inconsistencies with the description of the contents provided by the consignor. It will be alleged that when the package was opened, ABF officers found some sachets labelled as coffee instead contained a white crystal-like substance, which returned a presumptive positive result for methamphetamine.

The detection was referred to the AFP, who undertook further investigations and substituted the illicit drugs for a controlled delivery of the items.

Police executed a search warrant at the teenager's Booragoon home shortly after the package was delivered and allegedly found the consignment in his bedroom.

He has been charged with attempting to possess a marketable quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, contrary to section 307.6 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).

He faces a potential 25 years imprisonment if convicted.

On 25 August, a 35-year-old Maddington man was charged with attempting to possess 114 grams of methamphetamine, which ABF officers allegedly found hidden in a can of 'cooling powder' sent from Malaysia.

The 35-year-old faced court for the first time in August and has been remanded in custody to next appear in Perth Magistrate's Court on September 25.

AFP Detective Superintendent Tim Underhill said the cases highlighted the success of the collaboration between ABF and AFP to protect the community from the scourge of methamphetamine.

"These two seizures equate to more than two thousand street level deals of the drug, which are currently being sold for $200 each," Detective Superintendent Underhill said.

"This means the sale of 95 grams would have netted approximately $190,000 in street deals, while 114 grams was worth $228,000.

"No amount of illicit drugs are acceptable in our community.

"Methamphetamine causes harm, not only to users and the people in contact with them, but to the broader community, because drugs are a key factor in a range of serious criminal offending."

For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.

Editor's note: The photograph of the man in custody is the 19-year-old and the other images show both drug seizures.

Media enquiries:

AFP National Media: (02) 5126 9297

ABF Media: (02) 6264 2244