A man has been sentenced by the Perth District Court to more than six years' imprisonment for attempting to possess a marketable quantity of heroin, which was imported into Australia inside boxes of mascara.
The man, now 31, was sentenced last week (8 October, 2024) after he was convicted in June (2024) by a jury following a trial. The term of imprisonment of six years and two months includes a non-parole period of three years and seven months.
The AFP arrested and charged the man in August 2021 after an investigation that started when Australian Border Force (ABF) officers found the illicit drugs concealed in an air cargo consignment sent from South Africa.
When ABF officers in Perth examined the boxes and mascara tubes on 3 August, 2021, they identified a powdery substance hidden under the lid of several of the tubes and in envelopes hidden inside the boxes. Presumptive testing of the substance returned a positive result for heroin and ABF alerted the AFP.
There was a total of 329 grams of powder, with AFP forensic testing establishing it contained 116.8 grams of pure heroin.
The AFP removed the illicit drugs and delivered the package on 6 August, 2021 to a residence in Balga. Police were watching as the man arrived on an e-scooter and collected the consignment, before going to a nearby vacant property and taking a photo of the package.
The man dropped the package and ran when he saw a person he thought was a police officer, but he was arrested a short time later by AFP officers.
The man was charged with one count of attempting to possess a marketable quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, namely 116.8 grams of heroin, contrary to section 307.6 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
During the man's sentencing, the Judge said the heroin had a potential value of $203,000 if sold in ounces.
AFP Detective Inspector Andrea Coleman said the AFP worked closely with ABF and other law enforcement partners to disrupt criminal networks that tried to profit at the expense of the Australian community.
"We will continue to work tirelessly to combat the supply of these dangerous substances into Australia, regardless of the quantity," Det-Insp. Coleman said.
"Latest reporting shows that 455 people died in Australia in 2022 after consuming heroin, after 326 heroin-induced deaths in 2021."*
ABF Superintendent James Payne said officers had seen it all when it came to creative attempts by criminals to conceal illicit drugs in consignments coming into the country.
"Our officers are expertly trained to identify anomalies in goods being imported and will take swift action to seize these harmful drugs at the border and refer to the AFP for investigation," Superintendent Payne said.
*Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Report - 2024
