Melbourne precursor detections

Australian Border Force (ABF) officers in Victoria have prevented the importation of 100 kilograms of prohibited precursor drugs from China.

The precursor materials were intercepted at a parcel courier company in two 50 kilogram consignments which were addressed to separate non-existent addresses in Melbourne.

The consignments were labelled as ‘Sodium Tripolyphosphate’, a chemical commonly used in the production of cleaning products.

However, testing determined the product to be the border controlled precursor material Methyl a-Acetyl Phenyl Acetate (MAPA), a precursor of Phenyl‑2‑propanone (P2P), which is a precursor of methylamphetamine (Ice) and amphetamine.

As part of the investigation into the detection, ABF officers executed warrants on two residential addresses in the outer Melbourne suburbs of Craigieburn and Greenvale on Monday 2 September.

A number of electronic items and documents were seized for further analysis. The investigation continues.

ABF spokesperson Commander Graeme Grosse said the precursor detections had prevented a large amount of methylamphetamine or amphetamine from reaching Victorian streets.

“The ABF is committed to detecting and disrupting illegal drugs at the border before they cause harm on the Australian community,” Commander Grosse said.

“Our officers have the technology, skills and innovative processes at the border to detect and disrupt the importation of precursor drugs such as this.”

Anyone with information about the importation of illicit drugs or precursors is encouraged to report it to the ABF’s BorderWatch program by visiting www.Australia.gov.au/borderwatch.

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