Australian National Review – BC border agents seize more than 60 meth shipments bound for Australia in six months

Border officials in British Columbia say they made more than 60 seizures of methamphetamine destined for Australia between March and August this year.

“International drug trafficking is a threat to the safety and security of our communities,” Public Safety Secretary Dominic LeBlanc said in the news release. “The seizures announced today are examples of how the CBSA is working with domestic and international partners to disrupt criminal networks and keep illegal drugs off our streets.”

The import and consumption of methamphetamine has dominated the Australian market for years, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) told The Epoch Times in a statement. AFP said high consumer demand and high relative prices in Australia make the country an attractive target for transnational organized crime.

Officials did not say whether the seizures were linked to a specific organized crime group.

The man, who was not named by police, was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. He made his first court appearance on September 16 and was scheduled to appear in court again on October 4. Authorities said the drugs had an estimated value of AU$5 million – about CA$4.6 million.

“The AFP and its Australian partners are relentless in pursuing those who attempt to bring illegal drugs into this country,” AFP Acting Commander Josh Kinghorn said in the press release.

In July, there were multiple attempts to smuggle the drug into Australia on almost consecutive days.

The man, whose name was not released, was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. He appeared in court on August 1 and was scheduled to appear in court again on October 2. According to authorities, the seizure amounted to approximately 150,000 individual doses.

Police did not identify the woman in the release and did not report any arrests related to the incident, but authorities said she was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a controlled drug at the border. She was due to appear in court in Brisbane on the day the release was issued.

Officials estimate the street value of the seizure at $1.25 million. The names of the passengers were not released in the press release, but both were arrested.

“Our agency is combating the smuggling of illegal drugs at our border and disrupting crime networks,” Nina Patel, regional director general of the CBSA Pacific region, said in the Aug. 28 release.

“These seizures demonstrate the diligence and detection capabilities of our border services and the important role of our intelligence operations in intercepting illicit and harmful substances.”