One very big week: Customs seizes over 30kg of drugs in Sydney

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) has seized over 30 kilograms of precursor and performance and image enhancing drugs in New South Wales (NSW) over the past week.

Since last Friday (27 September 2013), ACBPS officers in the NSW Air Cargo and the Sydney Mail Centre have seized 24.6 kilograms of ephedrine, six kilograms of ContacNT and two kilograms of testosterone.

The drugs were spread across ten consignments which arrived from China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, destined for various addresses across NSW.

The ephedrine was concealed in several goods, including paint scraper handles, metal lunch boxes, body lotion, aluminium foil, tile cutters, resin, a table top, and a coffee machine.

ACBPS officers also detected the ContacNT concealed in extension cords, while the testosterone was concealed in washing powder.

ACBPS Acting National Manager Cargo Operations, Gerry Rodrigues, said the seizures are just another example of the diligence displayed by ACBPS officers working in the air cargo and international mail stream.

“No matter how these prohibited substances are concealed, our highly trained officers have the intelligence, technology and expertise to detect these dangerous drugs, seize them at the border and stop them from entering our communities,” Mr Rodrigues said.

Those caught importing prohibited goods, such as these precursors and testosterone, could face a fine of up to $170,000 and/or five years in prison.

 

 

Australian Customs website – http://www.customs.gov.au/site/131004_mediarelease_big_week.asp – 03rd October 2013