Three men have been arrested following the seizure of about 360 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside imported mosaic tiles – a drug haul with an estimated street value of $333 million.
Two Sydney men, aged 39 and 56, were taken into custody on Thursday morning (3 July 2025) at Holroyd and Liverpool. They were charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Both appeared in Parramatta Local Court on 4 July 2025.
A third man, 39, from Melbourne, was charged earlier on 12 May. He was refused bail at Melbourne Magistrates Court on 14 May and will return to court on 29 October.
The arrests follow a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) that began in April, after ABF officers intercepted a suspicious consignment of 360 boxes of mosaic tiles believed to have originated from the Middle East.
AFP Acting Commander Peter Fogarty said the arrests reflect the agency’s resolve to dismantle transnational drug trafficking networks.
“We regularly see elaborate or outside-the-box attempts to import harmful illicit drugs into Australia, but the AFP and our partners are ready and waiting to stop organised crime syndicates in their tracks,” he said.
“Methamphetamine causes immense harm to users and their families. On average, 38 people were hospitalised each day in Australia due to meth-related incidents in 2022–23.”
Forensic analysis revealed the tiles were impregnated with approximately 360kg of methamphetamine. Authorities then conducted a controlled delivery of the consignment to a storage facility in Chullora, southwest Sydney, on 15 April.
Police allege the 56-year-old Sydney man used an alias to coordinate the delivery, while the younger man assisted with logistics and storage. The two were allegedly aware the tiles contained meth and stood to receive up to $50,000 for their role.
The consignment was later moved to a facility in Clayton South, Victoria, on 22 April, where further investigation identified the Melbourne man as the alleged intended recipient. A search of his Donnybrook home on 12 May uncovered electronic devices linking him to the drug plot.
He now faces three charges:
- Attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug (maximum penalty: life imprisonment)
- Failing to comply with a 3LA order under the Criminal Code (maximum penalty: 10 years)
- Committing an indictable offence while on bail (maximum penalty: three months)
ABF Commander Kari Ellis praised officers for their detection skills and highlighted the importance of inter-agency cooperation.
“The ABF’s detection capabilities, along with x-ray technology and officer intuition, are world-leading,” she said.
“Criminal syndicates look to exploit any vulnerability they can find, but our layered border security will continue to protect Australians.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
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