This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force
Editor's note: Images available via Hightail
A Perth man has been sentenced to more than five years' imprisonment for attempting to possess about 406g of methamphetamine imported into Australia in 2021 in a package concealed within notebooks.
The man, 39, was sentenced by the Perth District Court on Friday (13 September, 2024) to five years and six months' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of three years and six months.
The AFP arrested and charged the man on 24 August, 2021, after he was found hiding in a shed in Perth's northern suburbs.
The arrest was the result of an investigation launched that month (August, 2021) after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers in Perth found the illicit drugs in an air cargo consignment from Malaysia.
ABF officers found anomalies in the lining of the notebooks when they checked the package and further examination uncovered a crystal-like substance, which was found to be about 406g of methamphetamine.
The matter was referred to the AFP and the illicit drugs were removed before the package was delivered to the man's Heathridge address on 24 August, 2021.
Police were watching as he arrived on a motorised scooter, collected the substituted package from the front doorstep and rode away.
AFP officers followed the man and moved in to arrest him when he stopped on a walkway in suburban bush to examine the package. However, when he saw a car drive towards him, he rode off on his scooter.
With the assistance of the Western Australia Police Force, the man was found a short time later hiding in a backyard shed.
The man later claimed that because the officers were in plainclothes and not in uniform, he thought it was criminals trying to steal the package or his motorised scooter.
The AFP charged the man with attempting to possess a marketable quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.6 by virtue of section 11.1 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). He pleaded guilty earlier this year (2024) to the offence.
AFP Inspector Chris Colley said methamphetamine caused immense harm to the community and even this amount could have been sold as more than 4000 street level deals.
"Across Australia, there were 10,100 methamphetamine-related hospitalisations in 2021-2022 – which equates to more than 27 every day on average. This has an impact on the health system that can negatively affect the entire community*," Insp Colley said.
"The AFP is working with ABF and other law enforcement partners to prevent illicit drugs from reaching our communities and stop those who try to profit at the community's expense."
ABF Superintendent James Payne said his officers were on alert for illicit drugs coming through the international cargo and mail streams.
"Regardless if it is meth built into books, toys or other methods of concealment, our officers use cutting edge detection equipment to prevent these illicit goods from making their way into the Australian community," Superintendent Payne said.
"This outcome demonstrates the highly effective collaborative manner in which the ABF and AFP work together to protect the community from harmful substances such as meth."
*Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare analysis of the National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD).