Man charged for importing opium & large amount of cash seized


A 43-year-old man from Bella Vista in Sydney’s northern suburbs is set to appear in Sydney Central Court today after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) charged him with importing opium into Australia.

Two search warrants executed in Sydney yesterday resulted in the seizure of more than 9.5 kilograms of opium, two kilograms of methylamphetamine, 1.5 kilograms of heroin and a sum of cash estimated to be in excess of $200,000.

Acting on information provided by the AFP, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service officers searched a consignment of samovars (metal urns used to heat water), carpets and bed sheets that arrived via air freight from Iran on 25 May 2011.

Concealed within the samovars was approximately 14.8 kilograms of a brown substance which presumptive testing indicated to be opium.

The 43-year-old man was arrested by the AFP at his Bella Vista residence yesterday for allegedly importing and subsequently distributing the drugs.

During the search warrant AFP members seized more than $100,000 in cash and approximately 500 grams of opium resin.

An additional search warrant was executed on a storage facility in the Sydney suburb of Rydalmere, resulting in the seizure of another nine kilograms of opium, two kilograms of methylamphetamine, 1.5 kilograms of heroin and an estimated $100,000 in cash.

Further forensic testing will determine the exact weight and purity of the drugs, while an official count is being undertaken of all cash seized.