A man is behind bars after a joint operation between New South Wales Police and Australian Border Force stopped 16 kilograms of heroin from hitting the streets of Sydney.
The $8 million haul is one of the biggest busts in recent years.
The crackdown comes after detectives from State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad recently received information about an importation conspiracy.
Following further inquiries, ABF officers targeted a package sent via air cargo from Thailand, which arrived in Sydney on May 1.
A Vietnamese national, 45, was refused bail when he appeared in court on Thursday. He will reappear in court in July
Police executed a search warrant at a Cabramatta West home in Sydney’s south west
Police arrested the Vietnamese national at the Cabramatta West home
‘The package was examined and X-rayed where anomalies where noted, at which point ABF officers unpacked the consignment and located children’s clothing concealing eight packets of ‘copy paper’. Testing of the contents provided a positive result for heroin,’ a NSW Police statement said.
Officers tracked the package, which was delivered to a holding location in Sydney’s south-west and picked up by a 45-year-old man on Wednesday.
A short time later, a search warrant was executed at a home at Cabramatta West, where the man was arrested.
The $8 million heroin haul is one of the biggest busts in recent years
Police seized the contents of the package, mobile phones, documentation, and 27 cases of Johnny Walker Blue Label whisky, which has a retail value of more than $30,000 and can sell for up to $200 per bottle.
The Vietnamese national was taken to Fairfield Police Station and charged with knowingly take part in large commercial drug supply.
He appeared at Liverpool Local Court on Thursday, where he was refused bail to reappear on July 18.
Police seized herion, mobile phones, documentation, and 27 cases of Johnny Walker Blue Label whisky from the home
The man was taken to Fairfield Police Station, where he was charged with knowingly take part in large commercial drug supply
The joint investigation is ongoing and further arrests are expected.
‘With the seizure of 16kg of heroin, we know we have put a decent dent in availability on the street, but we can’t stop there; we will continue our inquiries into where it came from and where it was going,’ Drug and Firearms Squad’s Detective Chief Inspector Jason Weinstein said
‘Further to that, we will harness the skills of our partner agencies, including the Australian Border Force, to stop the importation and large-scale supply of drugs which continue to plague our community. The most important thing we need is a commitment from the community to change the perception and acceptance of drugs, and dramatically reduce the demand for all illicit substances.’
The joint investigation between NSW Police and Australian Border Force is ongoing and further arrests are expected
Detectives from State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad recently received information about an importation conspiracy
ABF Superintendent Investigations NSW, Garry Low described heroin as a destructive drug that harms the users, their family, friends and the Australian community.
‘Heroin is extremely addictive and destructive, it rips apart families and does untold damage to those who become trapped in its grip,’ Superintendent Low said.
‘Keeping these illicit substances out of the hands of those who seek to make a profit from vulnerable members of our society is a high priority for the ABF.’
Anyone with information about the importation of illicit drugs or precursors is encouraged to report it to australia.gov.au/borderwatch.
Information about the trafficking, supply, and manufacture of illicit drugs in the community can be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The joint investigation is ongoing and further arrests are expected
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