The Australian Federal Police logo in Canberra, Australia, on June 6, 2019. (Getty Images)
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A vintage Bentley shipped from Canada to Australia was found stuffed with more than $155 million in illicit drugs, Australian police said. Four people have been arrested and charged as a result.
The New South Wales (NSW) Police Force said in a news release on Aug. 26 that the Australian Border Force (ABF) acted on intelligence and examined a shipping container consignment, which was shipped from Canada via sea cargo and arrived at Port Botany in southeast Sydney earlier this month.
The container, declared to contain a 1960 vintage Bentley S2, underwent X-ray and examination to identify anomalies. The NSW Police Force was alerted, and the vehicle was subsequently dismantled, revealing the concealed 165 kilograms of methylamphetamine and 30 kilograms of cocaine, which has an estimated street worth of more than $155 million.
The NSW police said detectives from the State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad—with assistance from ABF officers, Australian Federal Police, and the RCMP—established the Strike Force Chime to further investigate the import.
On Aug. 25, a warrant was executed at a residence at Rooty Hill, a suburb area 42 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district. The police seized the Bentley and a Ford Focus, along with mobile phones and a computer, during the search. A number of tools, including an angle grinder, were forensically examined at the scene, the police said.
Two men—aged 22 and 23—were arrested, according to the news release.
The 23-year-old Rooty Hill man was charged with seven offences, including importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, dealing with property suspected of being proceeds of crime, participating in a criminal group, and contributing to criminal activity.
The 22-year-old Botany man was charged with six offences, including importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, dealing with property suspected of being proceeds of crime, participating in a criminal group, and contributing to criminal activity.
Following a subsequent traffic stop, police arrested a third man, who was driving a Toyota Prado, and a female passenger, both aged 25, on the road corridor of M1 at Ballina at about 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 25. In a search of the vehicle, police found 2.2 kilograms of methylamphetamine and more than $1.1 million cash hidden beneath the cargo area.
The 25-year-old Homebush West man was charged with eight offences, including importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, dealing with property suspected of being proceeds of crime, participating in a criminal group, and contributing to criminal activity.
The 25-year-old Plumpton woman was charged with participating in a criminal group, contributing to criminal activity, and dealing with property suspected of being proceeds of crime.
All four suspects were denied bail.
It remains unclear where in Canada the shipment came from, as the police said investigations are still ongoing.
Earlier this week, the Australian police announced the largest seizure of methylamphetamine ever recorded after an additional tonne was seized following an ongoing investigation into the largest detection of drugs at the Australian border.
“We will allege this syndicate was extremely well connected in several corners of the globe,” detective chief superintendent John Watson said in a news release.
“The fact that we have seized a further tonne—potentially 10 million street deals—of this insidious drug just shows how little regard these types of groups have for the wellbeing of the community.
“Combined with the seizure from earlier this month, NSW Police and ABF officers have stopped more than 1.8 tonnes of ‘ice’ at the border—this is now the largest ‘ice’ bust in Australian history.”
