A Western Sydney man has been sentenced to an 18-month intensive corrections order by the New South Wales District Court today (17 November, 2023) for attempting to smuggle drugs and a handgun into Australia.
Investigations began in October 2021 after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at the Sydney Gateway Facility found an operational Glock-style pistol hidden in a gaming console in a consignment from the United States.
Inquiries by the AFP identified the man, 21, as the coordinator of the importation plot. The AFP also linked him to two attempted importations of illicit drugs – 500g of cannabis and 7g of cocaine – which were intercepted by authorities in August and September 2021.
A search warrant was executed at the man’s Yagoona home in November 2021, where AFP officers seized mobile phones in relation to the importations and a glass jar containing cannabis.
The man was initially charged with five offences and pleaded guilty on 7 June, 2023 to:
- One count of attempting to import a tier 2 good, namely a firearm, contrary to section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth), by virtue of section 11.1(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of attempting to import a substance, namely cannabis, contrary to sections 11.1(1) and 307.4(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of attempting to import a substance, namely cocaine, contrary to sections 11.1(1) and 307.4(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- One count of possessing a substance, namely cannabis, contrary to section 308.1(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The man will serve his 18-month ICO under in the community. He has also been ordered to do 70 hours of community service.
