Three men charged over alleged roles in importation of methamphetamine concealed in rolls of fabric

Australia Broadcast Center

16-07-2025

Three men have been charged for their alleged roles in importing almost 600 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in rolls of fabric, which authorities say could have "resulted in about six million individual street deals".
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers in Queensland intercepted a sea cargo consignment from Thailand on July 4, after it arrived at the Port of Brisbane.
It is alleged the drugs were concealed in eight wooden crates declared as "UV protective fabrics".
Forensic testing found the shipment contained 597kg of methamphetamine wrapped inside 200 rolls of fabric, authorities say.
The drugs were removed and the consignment was delivered to a warehouse in Bowen Hills, in Brisbane's inner north.
Australian Federal Police allege the three men were in the vicinity of the warehouse when it was delivered.
"Two of the men allegedly began to unravel the rolls of fabric, as the 24-year-old attended a business to buy an electronic scale to allegedly weigh the illicit drugs they were expecting," ABF and AFP said in a joint statement.
Police said that during subsequent search warrants of the warehouse and two vehicles, investigators found and seized the contents of the consignment, four mobile phones, about $7,000 cash, and tools suspected to be used in accessing the methamphetamine.
The men, aged 22, 24 and 28, from New South Wales have each been charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug and are expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the result demonstrated the commitment to combating transnational organised crime and illicit drug trafficking.
"The people behind importations like this have no regard for the harm and damage that illicit drugs wreak on the Australian community every minute of every day," Det Supt Telfer said.
"Methamphetamine is a devastating drug and causes harm not just to the user, but also their loved ones and the wider community.
ABF Acting Assistant Commissioner James Copeman said it was "an incredibly sophisticated concealment that could have easily evaded detection".
"The sheer volume of methamphetamine hidden within legitimate-looking fabric rolls speaks to the lengths criminal syndicates will go to, but it also highlights the extraordinary capability of ABF officers to detect and disrupt even the most convincing smuggling attempts," he said.