Melbourne man charged after 100kg of meth found in sandals

A man has been charged after the Australian Federal Police and Border Force intercepted 100 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside leather sandals.

The AFP started "Operation Birkin" in April 2024 after Border Force officials inspected six boxes that arrived at Sydney's Port Botany from Thailand.

Examining the shipment, they found crates of black leather sandals, with the drugs allegedly hidden inside the soles.

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The box had been addressed to a storage facility in western Sydney, police said.

During the investigation into the illicit sandals, the AFP allegedly observed a Malaysian national attempt to collect the boxes from the storage facility. 

Police followed the man, and allegedly observed him driving down the Hume Highway from Sydney to Melbourne.

The man was identified, and on Thursday afternoon, AFP officers arrested the man at his home in Burwood, Victoria.

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A number of fake phones were seized, and the man was charged with attempting to possess a commercial quality of meth.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

AFP Sergeant Alex Drummond said the AFP and its partners were committed to preventing dangerous drugs from making it onto Australian streets.

"The AFP will continue to work tirelessly to keep these dangerous drugs off the streets and ensure those hellbent on poisoning the community see justice," he said.

"We will allege this man was willing to drive up to Sydney at short notice to collect this consignment but the AFP stopped the onward distribution of these drugs, preventing millions of dollars from entering the criminal economy. "

The man appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court yesterday morning and was refused bail. 

He will return to the same court on August 30, later this year.