This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and South Australia Police
A 33-year-old Adelaide man is due to appear before court today (29 October 2019) after being arrested yesterday by members of the South Australian Joint Agency Ice Strike Team (JAIST) and SAPOL Serious and Organised Crime Branch for his role in the alleged trafficking of methamphetamine to Western Australia via the post.
The Woodville man is due to appear before Port Adelaide Magistrates Court today.
On 13 October, officers attached to the South Australian JAIST intercepted a package sent from Adelaide to an address in Perth, Western Australia. It will be alleged the package contained approximately 480 grams of crystal methylamphetamine.
Detectives from the Western Australian Organised Crime Division were subsequently contacted and arrested a 63-year-old woman, who was later charged with attempted possession of a prohibited drug and possession of a prohibited weapon. Police bail was refused.
As a result of further enquiries, yesterday members of the JAIST and SAPOL Serious and Organised Crime branch arrested the 33-year-old Woodville man. Police will allege the man was involved in sending the illicit substances to Western Australia.
South Australia Detective Chief Inspector Tony Crameri said these two arrests were yet another example of the benefits of close collaboration between State and Federal law enforcement agencies to fight the supply of meth into Australian communities.
“This is a reminder to the community that people who seek to traffic illicit drugs can face penalties up to $500,000 and/or life imprisonment,” Detective Chief Inspector Crameri said.
Australian Federal Police Detective Acting Superintendent Joshua Walsh, Coordinator Operations in South Australia, said jurisdictions and borders were not an obstacle to the ability of police to disrupt the flow of narcotics into and around the country.
“We will continue to use every resource available to us to disrupt and bring to justice people attempting to import and supply illicit drugs,” Detective Acting Superintendent Walsh said.
The South Australian Joint Agency Ice Strike Team (JAIST) is a South Australia Police led multi agency team comprising of members from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force (ABF), Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Department of ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Affairs and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC).
The JAIST actively pursues the movement of illicit drugs, including methamphetamine (ice) manufactured overseas, interstate or in the state of SA for distribution.
