Australian Border Force (ABF) officers have charged a man with importing chemicals used for manufacturing ‘Ice’ concealed in confectionery boxes.
ABF officers came across a 25 kg air cargo consignment from India on August 22 and found the boxes of sweets contained a crystalline substance within a foil bag.
Upon testing, it was revealed the substance inside the foil bag was pseudoephedrine, commonly used in manufacturing methamphetamine, or ‘ice’.
ABF Regional Investigations NSW A/g Superintendent John Fleming said the operation had prevented thousands of hits of “ice” from potentially reaching Australian communities.
“Our officers at the border have the skills and technologies to find concealments of illicit substances like these, however sophisticated criminal syndicates might think they are,” A/g Superintendent Fleming said.
“Methamphetamine is such a destructive drug and perpetuates misery in some of our most vulnerable communities. This operation shows whether you import the drug or the precursors to make the drug, we have you in our sights.”
The man was arrested and charged with of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor, contrary to Criminal Code Act 1995, Section 307.11(1), which carries a maximum penalty for an individual of 25 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding $900,000.
He appeared at Burwood Local Court on August 29 and was refused bail. He will appear in the same court on October 23, 2019.
