A 59-year-old man from Kelmscott has been charged in connection with an alleged attempt to import a commercial quantity of liquid methamphetamine into Western Australia.
The illicit substance was concealed in bottles of cordial and oil, and shipped from Malaysia, according to a joint statement released by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP)
The man is due to appear at the Perth Magistrates on Friday, 25 July 2025, after being remanded in custody during an earlier court appearance on Saturday, 19 July.
The investigation began when officers from ABF in Perth detected and examined two suspicious air cargo consignments originating from Malaysia. Drug detector dogs reacted positively to several of the bottles contained in the packages, and preliminary testing revealed the presence of methamphetamine.
Following this discovery, the ABF promptly alerted the AFP, who then seized a total of 27 bottles. Together, these bottles held approximately 33 litres of liquid that returned positive results for methamphetamine during field testing. Further forensic analysis will be conducted by the AFP to determine the exact quantity and purity of the illicit drug.
In a controlled operation, AFP officers removed the original meth-laced liquid and replaced it with an inert substitute before arranging for the consignments to be delivered to an industrial unit in Rockingham on Friday, 18 July.
It is alleged that the accused was present at the premises to receive the packages. He is said to have taken possession of the consignments, opened them, and photographed the bottles before leaving the location.
He later returned to his residence, where AFP officers arrested him. Subsequent search warrants were executed at both the Rockingham industrial unit and the man’s home. During the raids, authorities seized the substituted consignments along with $45,000 in cash found hidden inside a freezer.
Police also discovered small quantities of substances believed to be methamphetamine and cannabis, as well as ammunition, a crossbow, and multiple mobile devices. These items are currently undergoing forensic examination.
The man has been formally charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Commonwealth).
Investigations are ongoing, including inquiries into the origin of the seized cash and identifying any additional individuals linked to the attempted drug importation.
AFP Acting Superintendent Chris Colley emphasised the coordinated efforts between agencies to combat the use of air cargo in international drug trafficking.
ABF Acting Superintendent Carmen Lee said that the ABF used risk-based targeting to screen for undeclared and suspicious imports.
“Criminals attempt to circumvent our border controls every day, but our highly skilled officers are alert to the indicators of illegal imports and use world-class technologies, intelligence and training to disrupt them,” she said. “We are dedicated to working with our partners in law enforcement post-border, to bring justice to criminal entities who seek profits at the expense of our community.”
This case marks yet another example of the vigilance and cooperation between Australia’s border and federal policing agencies in preventing dangerous narcotics from reaching local streets through international trafficking routes.
Shahriena Shukri is a journalist covering business and economic news in Malaysia, providing insights on market trends, corporate developments, and financial policies. More about Shahriena Shukri.
