Two men from Sydney and Melbourne have been charged over an alleged attempt to import more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia, concealed inside jars of pickles in a shipment intercepted through a joint international investigation.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said the drugs, weighing about 115kg and with an estimated street value of $106.3 million, were detected by Canadian authorities earlier this year before being replaced with an inert substance and allowed to continue to Australia under controlled conditions.
The operation, conducted with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canada Border Services Agency, led to the arrest of a third man in Canada and the charging of two Australian-based suspects following coordinated raids in Victoria and New South Wales.
Investigators allege the shipment, identified in January 2026 as it left Canada, contained a crystalline substance hidden inside jars labelled as pickles. Forensic testing later confirmed the substance to be methamphetamine.
After the drugs were substituted overseas, the consignment arrived in Melbourne on 4 March, where officers from the Australian Border Force monitored its movement before it was delivered to an address in Campbellfield on 17 March.
Authorities executed simultaneous search warrants that day at properties in Baxter, Victoria, and Croydon Park in Sydney. A 63-year-old Baxter man and a 40-year-old Croydon Park man were taken into custody.
Police allege items seized from the Sydney property included about $400,000 in cash, silver bullion, a Ford Mustang, jewellery, watches and electronic devices, along with materials linked to drug activity.
The Victorian man appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 18 March, charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. The New South Wales man was extradited to Victoria and faced the same court on 25 March, where he was charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of drugs and conspiracy to import such a quantity.
Both offences carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The men have been remanded in custody and are due to return to court in June and July.
AFP acting commander Simone Butcher said the seizure prevented a significant volume of drugs from reaching the community, noting it had the potential to equate to more than one million street-level deals. She said the case highlighted the importance of international cooperation in tackling organised crime networks operating across borders.
Acting Deputy Regional Commander Tim Arseneault of the RCMP said the operation demonstrated how coordinated global efforts could disrupt criminal enterprises that exploit international supply chains. He added that agencies remained committed to dismantling such networks and preventing harm to communities.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
Sports news feed
