Illicit drugs seized in Adelaide following international operation

Five South Australian men have been arrested as part of the operation which involved the Australian Federal Police (AFP), South Australia Police (SA Police), the Australian Crime Commission (ACC), Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and Vietnamese Police.

More than one kilogram of a white powder believed to be 5-iodo-aminoindane, a variation of MDMA, or ecstasy and 880 grams of Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) has been seized. Almost 10 kilograms of a liquid suspected to be phenylpiperazine and benzylpiperazine (BZP) has also been seized. Forensic testing is ongoing to determine the exact quantities and purity of the substances.

Based on SA Police and ACC intelligence, the multi-agency operation began in 2010 with the interception by Customs and Border Protection officers of a shipment which contained a suspicious liquid.

In August 2011, The AFP’s International Network received information from Vietnamese Police of a suspicious cargo shipment destined for Adelaide.

The assistance provided by the Vietnamese Police was invaluable in the resulting seizure and arrests.
AFP Manager Adelaide Office Mick Duthie said the operation disrupted a significant source of illicit drugs in Adelaide.

"This is another example of the exceptional cooperative effort by law enforcement agencies in fighting the importation of drugs into Australia,” he said.

“This operation also signals the determination of those agencies to be proactive in combating drug importations and shows that it is a crime to import illicit drugs into Australia, no matter where they are purchased, or how they are imported.”

SA Police Assistant Commissioner Grant Stevens said the outcome of this operation proves the benefit of sharing and coordinating resources and information with other agencies.

“The agencies involved are committed to tackling the scourge of the illicit drug trade,” he said.

“Results such as this ultimately break down large and sophisticated crime groups and prevent illicit drugs hitting the streets and harming more people.”

Customs and Border Protection National Manager Enforcement Operations Kaylene Zakharoff praised the good work of the officers involved.

“By maintaining tight control of our borders we are protecting the community from the potentially harmful effects of these dangerous drugs,” she said.

ACC Acting Adelaide Office Manager Mario Armiento said that recent changes to Commonwealth legislation—supported by the ACC—meant that BZP was now a border controlled drug and subject to criminal proceedings.

“The collaboration and targeted intelligence of this operation, combined with the legislative and regulatory amendments achieved, has made Australia a more hostile place for those seeking to import BZP,” he said.

A 52-year-old man from Rosewater, a 49 year-old man Rosewater and a 30 year-old man from Salisbury Park have been charged with:

• Importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
• Importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
• Attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
• Attempting to possess a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.6 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
• Dealing in the proceeds of crime, contrary to section 400.4 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
• Trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug, contrary to section 32 of the Controlled Substances Act 1984.

A 42-year-old man and a 44 year-old man both from Mount Barker have been charged with:

• Importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
• Attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

Media enquiries:

AFP National Media (02) 6131 6333
Customs and Border Protection Media (02) 6275 6793
South Australia Police Media: (08) 732 23848
Australian Crime Commission Media: (02) 62436843