Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, South Australia Police, Western Australia Police
Yalata Police have uncovered approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine in a hire vehicle bound for Ceduna.
About 5.30pm on Saturday, 2 September, a patrol acting on information received from West Australia Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) stopped and searched the vehicle at Nundroo, unearthing a large quantity of methamphetamine, commonly referred to as ‘Ice’.
Police will allege the seizure could have a street value of up to 10 million dollars.
With the assistance of Penong Police and Ceduna CIB members, Yalata Police arrested two male occupants of the vehicle.
Two men from New South Wales; a 29-year-old man from West Ryde and a 29-year-old man from Homebush, were charged with possessing a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
The pair has been denied police bail. Officers from SAPOL’s Serious and Organised Crime Branch have travelled to Ceduna to assist with the investigation.
The seizure is directly linked to strategies enabled under the National Law Enforcement Methlyamphetamine Strategy, and its associated action plan known as Operation VITREUS.
Detective Chief Inspector Tony Crameri, Officer in Charge of Serious and Organised Crime Branch, has praised the diligent efforts of local SAPOL members and their interstate counterparts.
“We have achieved this significant outcome as a direct result of knowledge shared by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, via Western Australia Police.
“This seizure serves to highlight the outstanding results we can achieve given a tactical, coordinated multi-agency response to the scourge of illicit drugs, particularly Ice, on our streets.
“It is timely to remind the community that any person seeking to traffic illicit drugs can face penalties up to $500,000, and/or life imprisonment”, said Detective Chief Inspector Crameri.