Joint operation stops over three million potential hits of ‘ice’ reaching the streets

Photo: Daily Telegraph

The seizure brings the total weight of ephedrine detected at the Australian border in the past six months to more than two tonnes.

Investigations into the latest haul began in March this year after ABF officers targeted a sea cargo consignment from China, locating 27kg of ephedrine concealed in a metal canister.

Another sea cargo consignment, also from China, arrived in Australia in April carrying a further 240kg of ephedrine concealed within wall tiles.

Following these detections, the ABF commenced Operation Accinge—a joint operation with the NSWPF Drug Squad to target the criminal syndicate responsible for these attempted importations.

As a result of the joint investigation, on 11 July officers at the ABF’s Sydney Container Examination Facility targeted a consignment believed to be linked to the syndicate.

Inside were 30 milking machines, and approximately 100kg of ephedrine hidden in silver foil packages.

ABF officers and the NSWPF Drug Squad executed warrants at a residential property in Dundas, Western Sydney on Thursday evening (21 July 2017). Two 25-year-old men, both Chinese nationals, were arrested and have been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of ephedrine. The men were remanded in custody and are due to face Parramatta Local Court on 31 October 2017.

The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment or a fine of $900,000.

It is estimated that the total amount of ephedrine seized—370kg—could make up to 320kg of ice which equates to 3.2 million individual street hits.

ABF Superintendent of Investigations NSW, Garry Low, said this seizure brings the combined total of ephedrine detected at the border to more than two tonnes since March this year.

“Two tonnes of the precursor chemical ephedrine can be used to more than 1.8 tonnes of ice,” Superintendent Low said. “Significantly, that is the equivalent of 18 million individual hits of ice that the ABF and NSWPF have seized and will now be destroyed.”

“There is no doubt that this joint operation, and the record hauls we’ve been seizing are a direct result of our strong partnerships with law enforcement agencies at both the state and federal level.”

NSWPF Drug Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Tony Cooke, said the challenge of ice and other synthetic type drugs is that they are imported as finished product and also manufactured here using precursors such as ephedrine which are also illicitly imported or diverted from legitimate use.

“As this result shows, we are just as interested in the movement of precursors as we are in ice itself.” Det Supt Cooke said.

“We are focused both on seizing finished product and also the precursors used by organised crime to manufacture this poison.

 “We are proud of our efforts and we will continue to work with our partners to target the supply and manufacture of illicit drugs, but real and lasting cannot be achieved without change from within the community.

“As much as anything we need to reduce demand for all illicit drugs. While ever someone is willing to buy them, there will be criminal groups willing to supply it for profit,” Det Supt Cooke said.

The 370kg haul follows 1.4 tonnes of ephedrine—the largest on record—being seized in June 2017 following a joint operation between the ABF, NSWPF Gangs Squad and the Australian Federal Police.

That investigation led to the execution of search warrants across Sydney on 28 June, and the seizure of six handguns, a portable clandestine laboratory, ammunition, OMCG colours, fireworks and more than $2.5 million cash.

In March 2017, officers from the ABF and NSWPF also dismantled a syndicate allegedly responsible for importing in excess of 300kg of ephedrine.