Cops have seized more than 5kg of meth hidden in Chupa Chup lollipops from the US, as well as 655 grams of other drugs including cocaine.
The parcels bound for Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Macquarie Park, Chatswood and Ryde were discovered between November 2020 and March 2021.
Detectives arrested three men over their alleged involvement in the importation of the deadly drugs concealed in lollipops and lollies from the United States on Wednesday.
The methylamphetamine was concealed as lollipops when it was imported from the United States
The cocaine was pressed as lollies and imported from the United States
5.83kg of methylamphetamine and 655 grams of cocaine was seized from 16 packages arriving from the United States
Northern Beaches Police Area Commander, Superintendent Patrick Sharkey, said the drugs posed a significant risk to the community.
‘The manufacturing and packaging of these drugs was sophisticated; and they could have easily been mistaken for the sweets they were disguised as by both children and adults,’ said Superintendent Sharkey.
‘It is very concerning given the drugs were uncut and had a potency that could potentially cause serious injury or death if ingested.’
In early November 2020, Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at the Sydney Gateway Facility mail centre found three packages as they arrived in Sydney from the United States containing methylamphetamine and cocaine.
Between November 2020 and March 2021, authorities seized 16 parcels that contained 5.83kg of methylamphetamine and 655 grams of cocaine.
Northern Beaches detectives searched properties in the Northern Beaches, Sydney’s CBD and Ryde at about 6am today on March 10, 2021.
There was concerns that the drugs could have been consumed by people without realising the deadly quantities of drugs.
The drugs that were imported from the United States as lollies were headed for a number of Sydney suburbs
They arrested three men, aged 21, 31 and 49, at homes in Dee Why, Macquarie Park, and Collaroy Plateau where they were taken to Manly Police Station.
ABF International Mail, Cargo Clearance & Systems Support NSW Superintendent John Fleming said ABF officers are aware of the different tactics used by criminals.
‘Criminals might think that by using a scattergun approach to sending numerous packages containing drugs to different locations the packages will be missed by ABF officers, but that’s not the case,’ Superintendent Fleming said.
‘The ABF are always on the look-out for prohibited items being smuggled in goods like clothing, household goods, link do strony or in this case food items.’
Inquiries continue.
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