US nationals jailed over roles in attempted $1.29 billion drug shipment

Two US nationals, two Sydney men, one Melbourne resident and a South Korean man had plans to send the largest ever methamphetamine shipment to Australia worth an estimated street value of $1.29 billion.

According to police, the six-person syndicate intended to use audio equipment to conceal the haul from California, which could have been sold as more than 17 million street deals.

But almost six years ago, the Australian Federal Police and other law enforcement agencies started to watch their every move.

Investigators gathered intelligence about the planned large-scale importation by the suspected drug smuggling syndicate in 2018.

Australian police worked alongside US Homeland Security and US Customers and Border Protection to intercept a consignment before it left American shores inside two containers purporting to contain audio equipment.

Their work stopped about 1.728 tonnes of methamphetamine, 25kg of cocaine and 5kg of heroin from reaching Australian streets.

Police said at the time this was the largest ever shipment bound for Australia and the biggest domestic seizure in the US.

Following the drug bust, Australian police executed 13 search warrants across Melbourne and Sydney in early 2019. 

Two US nationals, three Australian men and a South Korean national were charged.

The three Australian men and the South Korean man were sentenced in 2021 and 2022.

Australian Federal Police said the remaining two members of the six-person group were sentenced in Melbourne County Court this week for their roles in facilitating the attempted importation of more than 1.7 tonnes of methamphetamine into Australia.

A man, now aged 57, has been sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 14 years.

A woman, now aged 52, has been sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of eight years and six months.

“The impact of methamphetamine use is seen in domestic violence, the road toll and an overload on the health system, as well as lining the pockets of organised crime,” AFP Detective Superintendent Jason McArthur said.

“Methamphetamine is an extremely addictive illicit drug which causes immense psychological, financial and social harm to users and those around them.”