The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has charged three Queensland men in connection with a plan to import 1.2 tonnes of liquid methamphetamine into Australia, following the interception of the drugs by Canadian authorities, hidden in juice bottles.
The men, aged 30, 35, and 43, were arrested by AFP officers last week (Wednesday, 11 September 2024) at a rural property in Jimboomba and at a shopping centre in Browns Plains, on the southern outskirts of Brisbane. They appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on 12 September 2024.
The 43-year-old man from Jimboomba was remanded in custody and reappeared in court on 17 September 2024.
The other two men—a 35-year-old from Jimboomba and a 30-year-old from Buccan—will reappear in court on Friday, 20 September 2024.
The AFP’s investigation targeted a transnational organised crime syndicate allegedly responsible for arranging the attempted importation of 1,280 litres of liquid methamphetamine, concealed in juice bottles.
The liquid methamphetamine, estimated to be worth $400 million on the street after conversion to crystal methamphetamine, could have been distributed in four million individual street deals.
The investigation began after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) allegedly identified the drugs in May 2024, when the shipment arrived in Vancouver from Brazil.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) alerted the AFP, and the liquid methamphetamine was removed and replaced with an inert substance. The consignment then continued its journey to Brisbane, arriving on 3 September 2024.
The AFP apprehended the three men after the shipment was delivered to a semi-rural property in Jimboomba and stored in a large shed.
All three men have been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug, methamphetamine, under sections 307.5 and 11.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.
Canadian authorities tested the liquid methamphetamine and found it to be up to 89 per cent pure. The AFP will conduct further forensic testing to confirm the purity of the shipment.
AFP Acting Commander Adrian Telfer highlighted the serious impact methamphetamine has on Australian communities.
“The social costs from 4 million hits of crystal methamphetamine are immeasurable,” he said. “This amount of liquid meth could have fuelled domestic violence, assaults, and contributed to the road toll, while enriching organised crime.”
Acting Commander Telfer praised the international cooperation involved in the operation, which prevented the drugs from reaching Australian communities.
“Our international network is essential in fighting transnational organised crime. Through this operation, working with our Canadian partners, we’ve kept a significant amount of meth off our streets and hit organised crime where it hurts.”
He expressed gratitude to the CBSA and the RCMP for their help with the investigation.
Nina Patel, Regional Director General, Pacific Region, Canada Border Services Agency, emphasised the importance of cross-border collaboration.
“This seizure and the subsequent investigation demonstrate the strong cooperation between international law enforcement agencies in combatting the illegal drug trade.”
RCMP Chief Superintendent Stephen Lee, Deputy Regional Commander, Pacific Region, reiterated that global partnerships are key to tackling transnational crime.
“Crime has no borders, and our close collaboration with international partners, like the AFP, is crucial in disrupting drug trafficking networks around the world.”
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