Five men charged over $101 million crystal meth bust

Five men have been arrested and charged after more than 100 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was stopped from hitting Australian streets.  

The seizure, which has an estimated street value of $101 million, was made in the Guangdong Province in China.

The drugs were found on the floor of a shipping container set to depart from Yantian Port in Shenzhen.

A 22-year-old Fijian national was arrested on February 24 for his alleged involvement in importing the large haul after the container was delivered to an address in Western Sydney.

Two other men, a 38-year-old Australian and a 42-year-old Hong Kong national, were charged in Sydney later that day.

All three face charges of attempting to import the meth and possession – which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Another two men – a Chinese national and a Hong Kong resident – were arrested in China over supply and shipping.

“This unprecedented merging of our two countries’ efforts to combat organised crime is continuing to pay dividends in the form of harmful drugs that will never reach Australian streets,” AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Luke Needham said.

Australian Border Force Regional Commander of New South Wales Tim Fitzgerald said it should come as a small win for deterring drugs “which destroy lives and tear families apart”.

The 38-year-old Australian, 42-year-old Hong Kong national and 22 year-old Fijian national are scheduled to appear in Sydney Central Local Court on April 26.

The haul was a joint operation between the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police, the Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and local Chinese authorities.