Lengthy prison sentences were handed to three men over $184 million of methamphetamine smuggled into Australia inside a large piece of machinery.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
An excavator, shipped from Hong Kong to Sydney in July 2021, concealed 295 kilograms of the drug.
Police said the methamphetamine was hidden under layers of concrete, steel and lead to avoid detection but border testing showed the haul.
Acting Australian Border Force (ABF) superintendent Mark Rea said seeing "these criminals [facing] the full force of their actions should serve as a warning to those who attempt to evade our tough border controls".
"The Australian border is a hostile environment for criminals and ABF officers will work day and night to keep it that way," he said.
Each of the men was sentenced to prison including nine years for a Merrylands man, seven years and two months for a Prospect man and six years and nine months for a Pemulway man.
AFP detective superintendent Kristie Cressy said methamphetamine was an extremely addictive illicit drug and caused "immense psychological, financial and social harm to users and those around them".
"Criminals have little regard for how these harmful drugs impact people, their families, and the community around them," she said.
Help is available:
- For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
- Access free 24/7 drug and alcohol counselling online at counsellingonline.org.au.
- For information about drug and alcohol addiction treatment or support, go to turningpoint.org.au.