QUEENSLAND, Jul. 16 (ABC News): Three men have been charged for their alleged roles in importing almost 600 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in kilometres of fabric.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers in Queensland intercepted a sea cargo consignment from Thailand on July 4, after it arrived at the Port of Brisbane.
It is alleged the drugs were concealed in eight wooden crates declared as "UV protective fabrics".
Forensic testing found the shipment contained 597kg of methamphetamine wrapped inside 200 rolls of fabric, authorities say.
The drugs were removed from the consignment which was delivered to a warehouse in Bowen Hills, in Brisbane's inner north.
Australian Federal Police allege the three men were in the vicinity of the warehouse when it was delivered.
"Two of the men allegedly began to unravel the rolls of fabric, as the 24-year-old attended a business to buy an electronic scale to allegedly weigh the illicit drugs they were expecting," ABF and AFP said in a joint statement.
Police said that during subsequent search warrants of the warehouse and two vehicles, investigators found and seized the contents of the consignment, four mobile phones, about $7,000 cash, and tools suspected to be used in accessing the methamphetamine.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said police had not ruled out the possibility of further arrests being made.
"Our investigation into the syndicate allegedly responsible for attempting to bring these drugs into Australia is ongoing," he said.
The men, aged 22, 24 and 28, from New South Wales have each been charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug.
Tony Nguyen and Ky Brendan did not appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court when their matters were briefly heard for the first time on Wednesday.
Martin Nguyen appeared via video link and applied for bail, but it was refused.
All three were remanded in custody and their matters were adjourned until August.
ABF Acting Assistant Commissioner James Copeman said 200 metres of fabric was used for each of the 200 rolls.
"It is kilometres of fabric that they have used," he said.
"They have concealed, or attempted to smuggle, all of those smaller packages towards the end of that in the hope it would cause some sort of disruption to our x-ray technologies, of which it did not."
He said while concealing drugs in fabric was not a "new methodology", this attempt was "incredibly sophisticated".
"The sheer volume of methamphetamine hidden within legitimate-looking fabric rolls speaks to the lengths criminal syndicates will go to, but it also highlights the extraordinary capability of ABF officers to detect and disrupt even the most convincing smuggling attempts," Assistant Commissioner Copeman said.
Detective Superintendent Telfer said the result demonstrated the commitment to combating transnational organised crime and illicit drug trafficking.
"The people behind importations like this have no regard for the harm and damage that illicit drugs wreak on the Australian community every minute of every day," he said.
"Methamphetamine is a devastating drug and causes harm not just to the user, but also their loved ones and the wider community.
Photo from AFP
