Three men were charged with importing nearly 90kg of methamphetamine into Sydney and are now facing the possibility of life in jail.
According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the drugs were transported from the US in five different shipments of futons.
Following a collaborative investigation by the AFP, Australian Border Force (ABF), and US agencies Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the arrests were made.
After the ABF discovered 5.5kg of meth concealed in a mattress in the first shipment of futons, the investigation got under way in March.
Two weeks later, a second shipment was discovered to have 15kg of the material inside.
According to a statement from the AFP, on May 2, 2023, “the AFP executed a search warrant in the Sydney suburb of Burwood, arresting and charging a 33-year-old man for his alleged role in facilitating the 15kg consignment detected in Sydney in March 2023.”
“On June 6, 2023, the AFP located and detained a second Burwood man, age 23, in connection with a different shipment of 15 kg of methamphetamine that HSI and CBP had intercepted.
“During the execution of a search warrant at his Burwood home, AFP agents seized a fake driver’s license, 20 kg of pseudoephedrine, 100 g of cocaine, and an encrypted electronic device.
On September 5, 2023, AFP officers carried out a search warrant at the residence of a 23-year-old Waterloo man, leading to his arrest and accusation.
“It will be alleged that he was attempting to import more than 8kg of methamphetamine in one of the consignments of futons intercepted in the US.”
The accusation of attempting to possess a commercial amount of methamphetamine carries a maximum sentence of life in prison for each of the three guys.
As a result of their individual court appearances at Downing Center Local Court, they were all remanded in custody.
On October 19, the 23-year-old Waterloo man is scheduled to appear before Sydney Supreme Court, while on September 20, the 23-year-old Burwood man is scheduled to return before Downing Center Local Court.
