An Italian national has been sentenced to three years' imprisonment in Western Australia for his role in a plot to traffic ketamine that was imported into Australia hidden in a package of Christmas gifts.
The man was sentenced by the Perth District Court earlier this week (Tuesday, 22 October, 2024) and will be released on a good behaviour recognisance order after he serves 18 months in custody.
The man, 27, was arrested in January, 2024, after an AFP investigation was launched when Australian Border Force (ABF) officers found about 1.5kg of high purity ketamine hidden inside stuffed toys in a package that arrived from Spain on Christmas Day, 2023.
The ABF alerted the AFP, with officers replacing the illicit drugs with a harmless substance before the package was released for delivery on 4 January, 2024 and taken to a residence in Coogee.
Later the same day (4 January, 2024), the AFP executed a search warrant at the address, where officers found the package open on a table, with the substituted drugs removed from some of the soft toys.
One bag of the substituted drugs was located on a set of scales, near a vacuum sealing machine.
The man was arrested at the property and charged with one count of attempting to traffic in a controlled drug, namely ketamine, contrary to section 11.1(1) and section 302.2(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
AFP Detective Inspector Matt Taylor said ketamine was a sedative that could be used legally by medical practitioners and veterinarians but was illegal to be imported for recreational use.
"Illegal ketamine can be quite dangerous – people using it will not know how it was made, what strength it is or what else it has been mixed with," Detective Inspector Taylor said.
"The dissociative effects block sensory brain signals, and it can cause memory loss, make people feel detached from reality and prevent their ability to perceive danger.
"Effects can range from nausea and vomiting to rapid heartbeat and seizures.
"While some air mail imports may seem like relatively small amounts of illicit substances, any amount can cause significant harm.
"The AFP is working closely with the ABF and other partners to identify and stop anyone who is seeking to profit from exploiting the Australian community through the illicit drug trade."
ABF Inspector Carmen Lee said officers were always looking for anomalies within parcels and packages to ensure criminal syndicates were not trying to smuggle prohibited items through.
"Criminal actors will stop at nothing in an attempt to import prohibited items into this country, always looking for creative and obscure ways to circumvent border controls," Inspector Lee said.
"As we approach one of the busiest periods of the year for incoming mail and air cargo, let this be a warning to those who think they can smuggle illicit substances through – our ABF officers are always watching."
The man has been in custody since his arrest on 4 January, 2024.