Hunter Valley Man Charged Over Alleged $19 Million Meth Import from Spain

newy.com.au – A Hunter Valley man has been charged over an alleged attempt to import 21kg of methamphetamine from Spain, with the drugs estimated to be worth $19 million on the street.

The 37-year-old, who is believed to have links to an organised crime group, faced Singleton Local Court on 7 February 2025, charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. He was remanded in custody and is set to reappear on 9 April 2025.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched an investigation on 15 January 2025, following a referral from the Australian Border Force (ABF). Officers flagged an anomaly in a sea cargo shipment described as portable power stations. Upon further inspection, with the assistance of the ABF Detector Dog Unit, officers discovered the meth concealed within several individually wrapped packages.

AFP investigators estimate the haul could have been sold in approximately 210,000 individual street deals. A controlled delivery of the consignment was arranged on 6 February 2025 to an address in Bulga, NSW, where it is alleged the accused took possession of the shipment.

A search warrant at a property linked to the man uncovered additional illicit substances, drug paraphernalia, and electronic devices, including five mobile phones. In a separate search at a Hunterview property, police also located a suspected explosive device, later identified as a commercial-grade grenade by the NSW Police Rescue & Bomb Disposal Unit.

The man has been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment under Commonwealth law.

AFP Detective Acting Inspector Aaron Burgess said the case highlights the ongoing national security threat posed by organised crime.

“The illegal and harmful drugs that organised crime syndicates import into Australia make our communities less safe,” he said. “The AFP is committed to working with our law enforcement and intelligence partners to stop these groups from profiting at the expense of Australian communities.”

ABF Superintendent Jared Leighton praised the work of officers in detecting the concealed drugs, highlighting the crucial role of the ABF’s detector dog unit.

“Our officers’ suspicions were already heightened due to anomalies in the x-ray image, but the positive detection from the ABF’s detector dogs provided further confirmation for analysis and testing,” Supt Leighton said.

Investigations into the broader syndicate remain ongoing.

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