BC Border Agents Seize Over 60 Meth Shipments Bound for Australia Within Six Months

A Canadian woman was charged after 14.4kg of meth were allegedly found in her luggage at the Brisbane International Airport on 28 July​ 2024. Australian Border Force/Handout

Border officials in British Columbia say they have made more than 60 seizures of methamphetamine destined for Australia between March and August this year.

The seizures prevented about 8 million individual doses of methamphetamine from reaching Australia, said the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in an Oct. 8 news release. The total seized includes 397 kilograms of the drug in crystal form, and 1,278 litres of liquid methamphetamine disguised in juice bottles.

“International drug smuggling is a threat to the safety and security of our communities,” Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said in the release. “The seizures announced today are examples of how the CBSA works with domestic and international partners to disrupt criminal networks and keep illegal drugs off our streets.”

Methamphetamine importation and consumption has dominated the Australian market for years, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) told The Epoch Times in a statement. AFP said high consumer demand and high relative prices in Australia make it an attractive target for transnational organized crime.

Most of the seizures announced by Canadian border agents took place in Metro Vancouver, where officers intercepted more than 1,300 juice bottles filled with liquid methamphetamine and nearly 200 kilograms of the drug. The second-largest share of the seizures occurred at Vancouver International Airport, amounting to 118 kilograms. The remaining share was intercepted at the Vancouver International Mail Centre.

Officials did not say whether the seizures were related to a particular organized crime group.

The CBSA said the investigation was handed over to the B.C. RCMP, which will work in conjunction with Australian authorities.

Drugs Destined for Australia

Among the most recent incidents, a Canadian man, 59, flying from Vancouver was arrested at Brisbane International Airport on Sept. 15 for allegedly trying to import 5 kilograms of methamphetamine, Australian authorities said in an Oct. 4 press release. Packages of the drug were allegedly hidden in the lining of two backpacks inside the man’s suitcase, as well as in the lining of the suitcase itself.

The man, who was not named by police, was charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. He first appeared in court on Sept. 16 and was scheduled to reappear in court on Oct. 4. Authorities said the drugs had an estimated value of AU$5 million–approximately CA$4.6 million.

“The AFP and its Australian partners are relentless in pursuing those who try to bring illegal drugs into this country,” AFP acting commander Josh Kinghorn said in the release.

The month of July saw multiple attempts to smuggle the drug into Australia on almost consecutive days.

A 38-year-old Canadian man travelling from Vancouver was arrested in Sydney on July 31 for allegedly concealing 15 kilograms of methamphetamine inside his luggage. Officials at the Sydney International Airport found the powdery substance in vacuum-sealed bags in his suitcase, Australian authorities said in an Oct. 2 news release.

The man, whose name was not disclosed, was charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. He appeared in court on Aug. 1 and was due to reappear in court on Oct. 2. Authorities said the seizure amounted to approximately 150,000 individual doses.

On July 28, a Canadian woman, 24, coming from Vancouver, was apprehended by the Australian Border Force for allegedly importing 14.4 kilograms of methamphetamines valued at approximately $12 million. The drug was found in plastic packages wrapped inside towels that had been soaked in vinegar and layered with coffee beans, Australian authorities said in an Aug. 2 news release.

Police did not identify the woman in the release or mention any arrests related to the incident, but authorities said she was charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a controlled drug at the border. She was scheduled to appear in a Brisbane court on the day the release was issued.

On July 27, Canadian border agents at Vancouver International Airport intercepted 10 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in false-sided compartments of two suitcases bound for Sydney, authorities said in Aug. 28 release. Two days later, they intercepted another 14.84 kilograms of methamphetamine bound for the same Australian city in the suitcase of another Canadian traveller. The drug was found in four vacuum-sealed packages wrapped in clothing.

Officials estimated the seizure’s street value to be $1.25 million. The passengers’ names were not disclosed in the release, but both of them were arrested.

“Our agency is combating the smuggling of illegal drugs at our border and disrupting crime networks,” said Nina Patel, regional director general of the CBSA Pacific region in the Aug. 28 release.

“These seizures demonstrate the diligence and detection capabilities of our border services officers and the important role of our intelligence operations in intercepting illegal and harmful substances.”