A Werribee man has been charged over his alleged role in a plot to import 80 kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia last year.
Investigators from the Victoria Joint Organised Crime Task Force (JOCTF) arrested and charged the man, 25, on July 31, after authorities seized the illicit drugs last year, following information provided by US law enforcement.
About 80kg of methamphetamine, concealed in a consignment of steel boxes addressed to a Victorian business, was seized by Australian Border Force (ABF) upon its arrival into Australia in October, 2023.
Police said that amount of methamphetamine could have been sold as 800,000 individual street deals, with an estimated street value of $74 million.
Authorities removed the methamphetamine and in November, 2023, the consignment was delivered to an address in Moorabbin.
During the delivery, the Werribee man was observed at a nearby location, police said.
He was arrested and police searched his home, where they allegedly found encrypted telecommunications devices, small amounts of border controlled drugs (BCDs) and evidence of the manufacture of BCDs.
The man was released pending further inquiries.
A police review of additional evidence indicated he also allegedly trafficked 11kg of MDMA, 10kg of methamphetamine, five kg of cocaine and two kg of ketamine and laundered about $850,000 allegedly obtained from criminal activities.
The man was arrested for a sexond time but JOCTF investigators on July 31 at Newcomb.
He was later charged him with a number of offences including importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine; dealing with money that was, and believed to be, proceeds of indictable crime and at the time of the dealing the value of the money was $856,700 or more; and trafficking methylamphetamine, ketamine, cocaine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
Police also searched the man’s home and vehicle, where they seized an electronic device and international banking cards.
He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on August 1, where no application was made for bail. The matter is next due in court on October 23.
The Victorian JOCTF comprises members from the AFP, Victoria Police, Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) and Department of Home Affairs.
