Two men have been arrested after more than 5kg of ecstasy was located in a package sent through the post earlier this month.
A total of 5.28kg of methelenedioxymethylamphetamine (also known as MDMA or ecstasy), linked to a SA Police (SAPOL) investigation, was seized at the Australian border by the Australia Border Force.
With the assistance of the Australian Federal Police, SAPOL continued its investigation and (on Monday) officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Investigation Branch arrested a 31-year-old man from Beverley, and a 22-year-old male from Saint Clair.
Both were charged with trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
Following the arrest police searched a number of premises in Adelaide.
It will be alleged that at a storage unit in Hendon police located a clandestine drug laboratory including a pill press and chemicals capable of being used to manufacture MDMA.
At an industrial shed at Wingfield, police located a further clandestine drug laboratory where tablets were being pressed with an electric pill press, a quantity of steroids and other illicit substances.
At a residential premises at Wingfield police located $290,300 in cash suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
In addition to drug trafficking, the 31-year-old man has been charged with money laundering and has been refused bail.
The younger man has been granted bail and is expected to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on 11 September.
Chief Inspector Tony Crameri, from the Serious and Organised Crime Branch, said further charges are expected to be laid in relation to the manufacture of controlled drugs and identity theft.
“These arrests follow co-operation at state and national level by several policing agencies and should act as a further warning to those who would seek to import drugs or chemicals in the post.”
ABF Acting Regional Commander, Matthew O’Connor said this is yet another example of an ABF detection leading to a successful investigation by our state and federal partners and ultimately a number of arrests.
“Thanks to the dedication of our officers, who screen millions of international mail items each year, we have stopped a significant amount of drugs from reaching the South Australian community,” A/g Regional Commander O’Connor said.