3 days ago
Man faces court accused of sending meth in meat esky to Christmas Island
A West Australian man has faced Perth Magistrate's Court over allegedly hiding meth in an esky with beef mince in a bid to smuggle the drugs to Christmas Island.
On November 15 last year Australian Border Force officers at Christmas Island Airport examined a large esky full of meat products which arrived from Perth by air freight.
Border Force alleged its officers found a sealed plastic bag inside a bag of mince which contained 28 grams of methamphetamine.
Two Christmas Island men were charged by Australian Federal Police (AFP) in February for attempting to traffic the drugs.
The AFP alleged the 24-year-old and 30-year-old paid a WA man to purchase and send them the methamphetamine.
The charges sparked an AFP search for a 50-year-old Cannington man at Perth Airport, and a search of his home, last month.
Officers seized clothing, a mobile phone and other items, with the man charged with drug trafficking.
The maximum penalty for all charges is 10 years' imprisonment.
In a statement, Inspector David Reis said the AFP was committed to disrupting drug trafficking to and from Australia.
"Methamphetamine is a devastating drug that causes immeasurable harm to users and their families, especially in smaller communities," he said.
"The criminals who push these substances are driven by greed and profit and have zero regard for the lives they ruin."
The 50-year-old Cannington man will next face Perth Magistrate's Court in September.
