1kg heroin sent through the international mail

A joint Queensland Police, Australian Border Force (ABF) and Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation has resulted in the arrest of a Robina (Queensland) man, charged in connection with attempting to import a kilogram of heroin into Queensland. Officers from the ABF, in Sydney, had recently detected the heroin which had been sent through the international mail stream.

As part of a joint agency investigation into the supply of drugs and firearms into Queensland, police executed a search warrant at a Robina residence where a 20-year-old man was arrested and charged with multiple drug and weapon offences.

During the search of the man’s residence and vehicle, police located and seized a .22 calibre pistol with silencer, a sawn-off 410 shotgun, ammunition, $42 650 in cash, and quantities of MDMA and cocaine.

The investigation commenced after an illicit substance was detected inside a consignment seized at the border which forensic testing confirmed to be heroin.

Investigators will allege the man attempted to import the heroin, which has an estimated street value of in excess of $500 000.

He was charged with 10 offences including: importing a marketable quantity of heroin, possessing marketable quantities of border controlled drugs, possessing proceeds of crime, possession of unlicenced weapons, possession of a shortened weapon and possession of a silencer.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brad Phelps from the Crime and Intelligence Command’s Drug and Serious Crime Group said the charges reflect the combined agencies’ ongoing commitment to disrupting the flow of border-controlled drugs and illicit items into the Queensland community.

“The nature of this alleged offending is very concerning and our investigations are continuing into criminal group links.

“Removing drugs and weapons such as these from the community is particularly important due to the harm they cause. I encourage anyone with information relating to persons involved in drug trafficking, money laundering and unlawful possession of weapons to contact Crime Stoppers,” Detective Senior Sergeant Brad Phelps said.

ABF Acting Commander Port Operations East, Brendan Slape, said the case highlighted again the achievements of law enforcement agencies when they work closely together.

“The ABF works tirelessly with our domestic and international partners to target this kind of serious crime and to hold those responsible to account. Today’s arrest shows that alleged criminals will face the full legal consequences for their actions. The ABF is focused on protecting the Australian community in this way,” Acting Commander Slape said.