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S'porean man, 55, charged in Australia for carrying 40kg of meth & cocaine worth S$25 million
If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.
Khine Zin Htet
February 25, 2025, 04:54 PM
A 55-year-old Singaporean man has been charged after allegedly attempting to smuggle over 40kg of drugs into Australia.
The drugs, consisting of 32kg of methamphetamine and 8kg of cocaine, were hidden in his luggage and seized at Sydney Airport.
Drugs found in luggage he abandoned
The man arrived in Sydney on an international flight from Malaysia on Feb. 20, 2025, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) said in a press release on Feb. 25.
ABF officers initially cleared him, as he claimed not to have checked in any luggage.
However, they subsequently found two suitcases containing the drugs abandoned on a luggage carousel, which allegedly had identification tags on them in the man’s name.
Photo from AFP & ABF
Further investigations revealed the man had travelled from Sydney to Adelaide and AFP officers eventually arrested him at Adelaide Airport on Feb. 21.
He had been attempting to board a flight to Malaysia on that day.
Photo from AFP & ABF
Charged
The man appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Feb. 24 and was subsequently extradited to New South Wales.
He is facing charges of importing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine and cocaine.
If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.
He is scheduled to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney on Feb. 25.
Drugs valued at over S$25 million
The Australian authorities said the seized methamphetamine has an estimated street value of A$29.6 million (S$25.1 million) and could have been sold as about 320,000 street deals.
The seized cocaine has an estimated street value of A$2.6 million (S$2.2 million) and could have been sold as about 40,000 street deals.
AFP detective acting superintendent Stuart Millen said the AFP worked closely with the ABF and other state and international law enforcement partners to stop criminals exploiting air travel channels as part of the drug trafficking supply chain.
“Illicit drugs destroy lives and remain a scourge for the wider community,” he said.
“The AFP and its partners are working tirelessly to disrupt all levels and all avenues in the drug trade and will stop anyone who tries to profit at the expense of our community.”
