中新網3月13日電 澳大利亞新南威爾士州警方12日說,警方破獲從東南亞進口250公斤的可卡因。這批可卡因的市值超過8000萬美元。
據聯合早報網報道,海關官員在碼頭一個家具集裝箱內,發現多個綠茶“鐵觀音”大袋內裝滿可卡因,於是悄然跟蹤集裝箱運到悉尼的一個貨倉,才下手逮捕一男兩女毒犯。
該州警察首長希皮翁內形容破獲這批可卡因的數量,是“非常驚人的。”
他對記者說:“250公斤的可卡因,不會給澳大利亞毒災增添麻煩了。”
警探總長萊曼便士,警方接到有人把數百萬澳元存進東南亞多個戶頭的情報後,追查到一個毒幫偷運這批可卡因進入澳大利亞。
他說:“轉賬是引起我們調查的線索。”這是我們追查這些毒幫的一個途徑,進一步的行動就是搜捕。”
當局以進口商用可卡因的罪名,提控一名50歲男子,以及分別是25歲和28歲的兩名女子。他們如果被定罪,最高刑罰是終身監禁。
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/money-trail-ends-in-87m-cocaine-seizure/2008/03/12/1205126014038.html
FOLLOWING the money trail, which involved millions of dollars in transfers from Australia to a South-East Asian country, led police to a giant cocaine ring.
Three Australians appeared in two Sydney courts yesterday after the eight-week investigation, which resulted in the seizure of 250 kilograms of high-grade cocaine.
The drugs were concealed inside packets labelled as green tea in 10 cardboard boxes in the rear of a shipping container of furniture that arrived in Sydney on March 4, a customs official said.
The haul, the fourth-largest seizure in Australian history with a street value of $87.5 million, was intercepted by members of the multi-agency Joint Asian Crime Group. Police carried out nine raids at properties in Hurstville, Allawah, Rockdale, Auburn, Glebe and inner Sydney.
The accused -
Frank Hu, 50, of Hurstville, and two women, Dan Wang, 28, from Rockdale, and Yue Ma, 25, from Allawah - were charged with importing and attempted possession of a commercial quantity of cocaine.
Hu is also charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Hu faced Central Local Court and was refused bail. He is due to reappear on April 30. He was arrested on Tuesday afternoon in a Kogarah street. The women were arrested the same day.
Wang appeared at Sutherland Local Court while Ma also appeared in Central Local Court. The prosecutor at the Sutherland Local Court, Sergeant Katherine Crumblin, said customs officers inspected the container and found the cocaine. Police officers substituted it with a harmless substance and monitored the delivery.
Wang, originally from China, is accused of being responsible for the unloading and safekeeping of the drugs. She remained silent throughout the hearing.
The magistrate, Jayeanne Carney, denied bail, saying the offence, which has a maximum penalty of life, carried a presumption against bail.
Officers wheeled out about 40 kilograms of the drug at a news conference yesterday, leaving the room with a strong chemical smell.
That\'s one-quarter of a tonne of cocaine that won\'t be on the streets of Sydney tonight, dealing misery, the Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, said.