Police have made “one of the biggest seizures of methylamphetamine and cocaine in Tasmania’s history”, preventing 6kgs of illicit drugs from entering the state.
Tasmania Police and the Australian Federal Police intercepted the drugs in a 26-year-old’s vehicle as he arrived into Devonport from Geelong on the Spirit of Tasmania on Friday night.
Drug detection dogs screened the man, leading to a search of his car, which uncovered 2 kilograms of cocaine and 4 kilograms of methylamphetamine worth ‘in excess of $5 million’.
Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Rob Blackwood said would have resulted in “about 42,600 street deals of methylamphetamine and 2,300 street deals of cocaine” if the drugs had made it to the streets.
“We know illicit drugs cause harm in our community, and we see the very real and wide-reaching impact these drugs have, both on individuals and on our community as a whole,” he said.
“As we have said before, anyone seeking to profit by selling harmful drugs to Tasmanians should know we will target them and their activities.”
“We are committed to preventing the importation and distribution of these substances, which is why we work so closely with our sea, air and mail corridors to ensure they are not exploited.”
AFP Assistant Commissioner Hilda Sirec said the AFP worked closely with national and international partners to prevent harmful illicit drugs from reaching the community.
“The AFP has been working alongside Tasmania Police to ensure the community remains safe from the threat of criminal syndicates,” AC Sirec said.
“No matter what amount reaches Australian borders, these dangerous substances have devastating impacts that can be life-threatening even in the smallest amounts.”
The man has been charged with trafficking in a controlled substance and will appear in the Devonport Magistrates Court today.
