A 59-year-old Kelmscott man has been charged over an alleged plot to smuggle liquid methamphetamine into Australia hidden inside bottles of cordial and cooking oil sent from Malaysia.
AFP Acting Superintendent Chris Colley said the bust was a result of strong cooperation between law enforcement partners.
“Methamphetamine causes immense harm – not only for users, but the entire community through the associated crime, pressure on the health system and distortion of financial markets.”
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched an investigation last week after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Perth Airport intercepted two suspicious air cargo consignments from Malaysia.
ABF drug detection dogs reacted positively to bottles of cordial and oil, and initial testing confirmed the presence of methamphetamine. Officers seized 27 bottles containing 33 litres of liquid meth and alerted the AFP, who began a controlled delivery operation.
The bottles were drained and refilled with an inert substance before being delivered to a Rockingham industrial unit on 18 July. Authorities allege the Kelmscott man took possession of the packages, opened them, and took photos before returning home—where he was arrested shortly after.
A subsequent search of the industrial unit and his residence uncovered the substituted consignments, $45,000 in cash hidden in a freezer, suspected methamphetamine and cannabis, ammunition, a crossbow, and several mobile devices, now under forensic examination.
ABF Acting Superintendent Carmen Lee added that officers remain vigilant against criminal attempts to bypass Australia’s border protections.
“Criminals attempt to circumvent our border controls every day, but our highly skilled officers are alert to the indicators of illegal imports and use world-class technologies, intelligence and training to disrupt them.”
The man has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment under section 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
Further inquiries are underway into the origin of the cash and potential involvement of others in the drug trafficking scheme.
The man is due to face Perth Magistrates Court today after being remanded in custody following his first court appearance on Saturday, 19 July.
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