Highlights
- The illegal substance was found inside wedding invitations in February 2020
- Man arrested in Sydney on Tuesday
- Accused faces 25-years imprisonment and/or fine of $1,050,000
The Australian Border Force has confirmed to SBS Hindi the consignment arrived from India.
‘On February 20, 2020, ABF officers examined an air cargo consignment containing wedding invitations and dresses. On closer inspection, the officers identified small plastic bags in the lining of the wedding invitations which contained a white substance.
‘The substance tested positive to pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is an illegal precursor which is commonly used in the manufacture of methamphetamine or “ice”,’ the ABF said in a release on Wednesday.
On July 21, 2020, ABF officers with the assistance of NSW Police, arrested a 20-year-old man from Bexley.
‘Mobile phones and other devices were seized by the ABF for further examination at all three properties,’ the ABF said.
The man has been charged with one count of intentionally importing into Australia a commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor, namely Pseudoephedrine, without approval, one count of contravening request in s201A order, being for a serious offence, and one count of hindering Commonwealth official.
The 20-year-old man appeared at Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday where he was granted bail. He will reappear in court on September 14, 2020.
‘The maximum penalty he could face for importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor is 25 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $1,050,000,’ the ABF said.
What are precursor drugs and how are they used?
Drug precursors are chemicals that are primarily used for the legitimate production of a wide range of products, like medicine, perfumes, plastics, cosmetics etc.
However, they can also be misused for the illicit (illegal) production of drugs such as methamphetamines, heroin or cocaine.
The ABF officers found pseudoephedrine inside wedding invitations which the ABF claims, is an illegal precursor commonly used for manufacturing methamphetamine or “ice”.
The possession, supply, traffic, importation, exportation and manufacturing methamphetamine and its precursors are prohibited in all Australian states and territories and against Commonwealth law.
ABF Regional Investigations NSW Superintendent Garry Low said ABF officers are committed to stopping precursor drugs, such as pseudoephedrine, from entering Australia.
“Criminals shouldn’t assume the ABF is only focused on finding illicit drugs and that they have a better chance of smuggling precursors into the country. That’s just not the case,” Superintendent Low said.
“ABF officers regularly find and stop precursors at the border, which disrupts the local manufacture of illicit drugs, deprives criminal syndicates of a product to sell, and keeps these dangerous drugs off our streets.”
Crystal methamphetamine, or ‘ice’, is a synthetic stimulant drug and a variant of methamphetamine.
Methamphetamine typically comes in three different forms (ice, base and speed) that vary in their appearance and potency.
Crystal methamphetamine is one of the most potent varieties of the drug and is usually colourless and odourless.
The name ‘ice’ comes from the drug’s form of white little ‘crystals’ and glass-like appearance.
The 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey found that 5.8% or 1.2 million Australians over the age of 14 had ever used methamphetamine (including ice, speed or base) and 1.3% reported recent use (in the past 12 months).
Concerned about someone using ice?
You can call Family Drug Support Online on 1300 368 186 (24/7) to seek help. It is an online counselling resource designed to provide support for family and friends of individuals experiencing problems with crystal methamphetamine ('ice') and/or other drug use.
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