Sydney man jailed for importing meth hidden in electric motors
A Sydney man, 36, has been sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for importing 10 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in electric motors.
The man was sentenced in the Sydney Downing Centre District Court on 1 September 2022, after pleading guilty in May 2022 to importing the methamphetamine, which he had delivered to his workplace.
The AFP investigation which identified the Quakers Hill man started in September 2020, after Australian Border Force officers located illicit drugs hidden in consignments labelled electric motors and pool pumps.
The consignments, from Italy and the US, were linked to the man and a business in Silverwater, where he worked as a store manager and had the illicit drugs delivered.
More details into the man’s arrest in April 2021 is available via the previous media release.
The man pleaded guilty on 4 May 2022 to two counts of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 307.1(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
AFP Detective Superintendent Matt Ciantar said anyone who imports a large quantity of methamphetamine or any other illicit drug into Australia risks life behind bars.
“The AFP is working alongside its partners at the border and offshore to share intelligence, track the movement of illicit drugs into Australia and intercept them,” Det-Supt Ciantar said.
“We are targeting individuals and groups profiting off Australia’s high demand for illicit drugs, where the profits are ultimately funnelled back into the pockets of organised crime syndicates operating offshore.”
The AFP estimated this seizure has saved the community more than $4 million in drug-related harm, including associated crime, healthcare and loss of productivity.
The man has been sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of four years by the Sydney Downing Centre District Court on 1 September, 2022.
ABF Aviation Goods Superintendent Mal Nimmo said this sentence is the culmination of interagency cooperation and strong border protections aimed at disrupting the supply of drugs into our community.
“The technical expertise of our dedicated ABF officers, alongside valuable intelligence information, meant we were able to stop this harmful substance from entering our community,” Superintendent Nimmo said.
“We continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure the Australian community is kept safe from the importation of dangerous drugs.”
The AFP worked in partnership with US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to share information through the AFP International Network and investigate the origins of the methamphetamine.
US HSI Attaché Ernest A. Verina said this sentencing further emphasizes the importance international collaboration plays when combating transnational crime.
“HSI continues to work closely with Australian law enforcement to ensure that international drug smuggling syndicates are disrupted and dismantled,” said HSI Attaché Verina.
