Meth seized after joint agency operation

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Western Australia Police

A joint operation involving the WA Police Organised Crime Squad and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission has resulted in the seizure of 4kg of methylamphetamine.

The investigation examined the suspicious activities of a 23-year-old Perth man and a 27-year-old East Cannington man.

The East Cannington man boarded a flight from Perth to Sydney on Monday September 19, 2016, and returned to WA on another flight later that day.

Both men were intercepted at the Perth Domestic Airport. A search of the East Cannington man’s luggage located about 4kg of methylamphetamine.

Properties in Perth and East Cannington were searched that day, and the following was seized:

  • 500g of cocaine;
  • $10,000 cash;
  • Casino chips worth $11,000;
  • A pistol and ammunition;
  • Mobile phones and drug paraphernalia.

Further investigations identified a third man, aged 25 and from Darlinghurst, New South Wales, who travelled to Perth on Wednesday September 21. He was arrested and properties linked to him in Darlinghurst and Perth were searched, resulting in the seizure of:

  • 200g of a white powder, believed to be cocaine;
  • Two guns

Serious and Organised Crime Division Detective Superintendent Dene Leekong said the 4kg of methylamphetamine was worth up to $4 million and equated to 40,000 hits on Perth streets.

“This operation has prevented a damaging quantity of methylamphetamine from hurting our community,” Det-Supt Leekong said.

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission State Manager Western Australia, Doug Miller, said the profitability of crime comes at a cost for individuals, families, the community, government and ultimately to all Australians.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission has assessed that methylamphetamine poses—by far—the greatest threat to the Australian public of all illicit drug types, and by a significant margin.

More than 60 per cent of Australia’s highest risk serious and organised crime targets are involved in the market.

The operation resulted in the following charges:

23-year-old Perth man (appeared Perth Magistrate’s Court Tuesday, remanded in custody to reappear on October 18):

  • 2 X Possess a Prohibited Drug with Intent to Sell or Supply (methylamphetamine).

27-year-old East Cannington man (appeared Perth Magistrate’s Court Tuesday, remanded in custody to reappear on October 18):

  • 1 X Possess a Prohibited Drug With Intent to Sell or Supply (methylamphetamine);
  • 1 X Unlawful Possession (Cash).

25-year-old Darlinghurst man

  • 1 X Possess and Prohibited Drug with Intent to Sell or Supply (due in Perth Magistrate’s Court today, September 22).

The investigation is ongoing and further charges may be laid.