A man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Perth District Court yesterday (30 January, 2025) after he tried to traffic drugs while in a WA detention centre.
The District Court has ordered the man, 30, serve 18 months in custody before he will be released on a recognisance order to be of good behaviour.
The man smuggled a variety of border-controlled drugs, contained in two small packages, into the Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre on 21 November, 2022. Australian Border Force (ABF) officers observed the man accepting the packages from a visitor. A subsequent search revealed quantities of illicit drugs - cannabis (60.4 grams), methamphetamine (27.9 grams) and heroin (3.3 grams).
The man and his female associate were later charged via summons with one count each of trafficking controlled drugs, contrary to section 302.4 (1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The woman was sentenced on 29 February, 2024, to two years and two months' imprisonment.
AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Chwal said the AFP worked closely with the ABF and law enforcement partners to prevent drug supply wherever it occurred.
"We see daily the harm these drugs can cause, not only to users, by also in their wide-reaching impacts on WA's health system," Det Supt Chwal said.
"This outcome should serve as a warning the AFP and our partner agencies are committed to combating all levels of the illicit drug trade."
ABF Acting Commander Sharan Brown said the safety of detainees, staff and visitors remained the highest priority.
"We will not hesitate to act decisively with our law enforcement partners when this kind of activity is observed," a/Commander Brown said.
