David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

The drugs were seized from two crates as part of an airfreight shipment from Hong Kong. The crates were labelled as a water system, and arrived in Sydney on 15 March. Further examination by the diligent and vigilant members of the Australian Customs Service revealed a white powder concealed in the subframe of one of the systems, and initial testing identified that powder as cocaine. The Joint Asian Crime Group subsequently substituted the drugs with an inert substance and, on 26 March, observed it being delivered to a business premise in Marrickville in New South Wales. Late yesterday afternoon, a man accessed the consignment and was duly arrested.

The joint Asian crime group utilised the extensive and effective international network of the Australian Federal Police as part of the investigation to identify—