A man has been arrested in the car park of the Maroubra Surf Club in Sydney’s east following an alleged attempt to collect 60kg of methamphetamine worth more than $50 million.
Richard Prothero, 36, is scheduled to appear at Downing Center Local Court on Wednesday to face charges in relation to attempted importation of a commercial quantity of methamphetamine.
In September, US authorities intercepted a shipment containing 95kg of methamphetamine bound for Australia from Los Angeles.
The drugs were removed before the shipment left the United States, but a joint operation with the Australian Federal Police traced the delivery to Sydney.
The AFP arranged for substitute 60 kilo packages to be placed in a vehicle in the parking lot of the Maroubra Surf Club.
Although the substitute packages contained no drugs and were harmless, the street value of that amount of methamphetamine would have been $55 million.
On Tuesday morning, a man was allegedly seen removing a key from under the bumper of the vehicle, before getting in and starting the engine.
The man, who is from Liverpool, south-west of Sydney, was attacked by police officers and arrested.
A man has been arrested (pictured) in the car park of the Maroubra Surf Club in Sydney’s east following an alleged attempt to collect 60kg of methamphetamine worth more than $50 million.
In September, US authorities intercepted a shipment from Los Angeles containing 95 kilos of methamphetamine bound for Australia.
A search of another vehicle led to the discovery of around $100,000 in cash, prepaid SIM cards, a phone and an iPad.
A search of Prothero’s home turned up small quantities of drugs and a CCTV system.
He has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
AFP inspector Kristie Cressy stated that 60 kilos of methamphetamine could have been distributed in some 600,000 street sales.
A search of another vehicle led to the discovery of around $100,000 in cash (pictured), prepaid SIM cards, a phone and an iPad.
“Methamphetamine, like all illicit drugs, causes psychological, financial and social harm to users, their loved ones and the wider community,” Ms Cressy said.
‘Criminals don’t care about the damage they cause, they are motivated by the profits they can make.
“Across Australia, there were 10,100 methamphetamine-related hospitalizations in 2021-2022, which is more than 27 each day on average.”
Cressy added that “this has an impact on the health system that can negatively affect the entire community.”
“Investigations like this show the determination and relentlessness of our investigators in making Australia a hostile environment for organized crime.”