A consignment of horse statues filled with methamphetamine destined for Broadmeadows has led to the arrest of four men and the dismantling of a Melbourne drug syndicate.
Australian Border Force officers intercepted the Broadmeadows-bound shipment on November 24 last year and found the ceramic horse statues, allegedly filled with 10.9 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The intercept kicked off Operation Conure, whose undercover officers helped with another delivery of ceramic horses in December last year. The operation helped identify four people on interest, including a 30-year-old Sierra Leone man.
According to AFP media officers, it will be alleged that these four men were operating a drug syndicate and can be linked to other methamphetamine seizures in Melbourne.
AFP officers conducted four search warrants on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Sierra Leone man was arrested in Truganina; a 28-year-old Liberian man was arrested in Wyndham North; a 26-year-old Liberian man was arrested in St Albans and a 21-year-old Australian national was arrested in Sunshine.
The men have been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and attempting to possess an unlawfully imported substance contrary to the Criminal Code.
AFP superintendent Matt Warren said Wednesday’s arrests have effectively shut down a sophisticated drug ring.
“These arrests are particularly significant given we have managed to charge the alleged organiser of this drug syndicate, which will stop countless more attempts to import this horrendous drug,” he said.
The maximum penalty for commonwealth importation offences is life imprisonment.
