Picture of the imported drugs courtesy of ABC News

 

In a bust that reads like a crime thriller, three Australian men have been charged after authorities discovered nearly 600 kilogrammes of methamphetamine hidden in fabric rolls shipped from Thailand.

 

On 4 July, Australian Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted the shipment at the Port of Brisbane. The cargo, labelled "UV protective fabrics," contained 597kg of methamphetamine meticulously wrapped into 200 fabric rolls, carrying a street value estimated in the hundreds of millions.

 

Rather than immediately apprehending suspects, officials cleverly swapped the drugs and allowed the shipment to proceed to a Bowen Hills warehouse in Brisbane, keeping a close watch.

 

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) reported that the men, aged 22, 24, and 28, all from New South Wales, were seen near the location. Two began unrolling the fabric while the third allegedly procured an electronic scale to weigh the expected drugs.

 

Raids on the warehouse and two vehicles led to the seizure of four mobile phones, tools for drug extraction, around AU$7,000 (149,000 baht) in cash, and the decoy shipment.

 

Picture of the imported drugs courtesy of ABC News

 

The accused—Tony Nguyen, Ky Brendan, and Martin Nguyen—face charges of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an illegally imported drug.

 

Brendan and Tony Nguyen did not appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on 9 July, while Martin Nguyen, appearing via video link, was denied bail. The trio remains in custody with a court appearance set for August.

 

AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer criticised the syndicate's disregard for community safety, commenting on the destructive impact of illicit drugs.

 

ABF Acting Assistant Commissioner James Copeman hailed the operation as a success, applauding the officers for foiling the "incredibly sophisticated" concealment.

 

This case underscores the relentless efforts by Australian authorities to combat drug smuggling and protect communities from the harms of illegal substances.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-16

 

 

Those pesky Aussies up to no good again. Seems to be never-ending. 

8 minutes ago, Keeps said:

Those pesky Aussies up to no good again. Seems to be never-ending. 

True.Their on the way to beat the brits in crims.

Add 3kg extra to each roll. Smart thinking. They should have sought advice from a certain Thai politician. 

 

Oh wait.