Two Taiwanese men arrested over alleged plot to import methamphetamine into Australia

Two Taiwanese men have been arrested in their home country over a potential plot to import 100kg of ice into Australia.

The bust is linked to Operation Ironside, a multi-national police campaign which saw authorities sell drug dealers tapped phones.

Australian Federal Police caught wind of the plot after one of the men was caught in the crosshairs of Operation Ironside.

The operation intercepted encrypted messages which allegedly suggest one of the men has coordinated more than 30 methamphetamine importations into Australia in 2020. 

Australian Federal Police worked alongside Taiwanese Police to arrest the two men (pictured, an officer testing the alleged illegal substance)

Assistant Commissioner Pryce Scanlan said the man, 33, was trying to bring 100kg of ice into the country.

‘We suspect they were operating long before we started monitoring them and were involved in multiple other drug trafficking plots targeting Australia,’ Asst. Comm. Scanlan said.

Federal police, working with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and international agencies, intercepted the drugs in the United States before they arrived in Australia.

They then passed on intelligence to the Taiwan Criminal Investigation Bureau who located the 33-year-old in New Taipei City and arrested him in July. He was already wanted under a Taiwanese arrest warrant for another drug offence.

Further investigation by Australian and Taiwanese agencies saw a second arrest of the 36-year-old from Taoyuan City in October, believed to be the younger man’s right-hand man.

Taiwanese Police found and arrested the men (one, centre, above) from two different cities in July and October

Police allege one of the men coordinated more than 30 importations into Australia (pictured, discovered substances)

Both have been charged under Taiwanese law over plans to bring 30kg – or $45 million worth – of ice into Australia and are facing life imprisonment if convicted.

Video shows the moment the two men were arrested. 

The men’s syndicate is believed to be involved in large drug imports into Western Australia.

‘This organised crime group has caused significant harm to the Australian community for a number of years, as well as causing harm offshore,’ Asst. Comm. Scanlan said.

‘In 2020, on average, 10 people died in Australia each week from an amphetamine overdose, and in 2020 to 2021 about 34 people a day were hospitalised from methamphetamine use.’ 

Assistant Commissioner Pryce Scanlan (above) said the bust is a win for Australians with an average of 34 people hospitalised daily for methamphetamine use