One of three men accused of attempting to import more than $500 million worth of drugs into Australia inside rolls of fabric has been denied bail.
Martin Nguyen, 24, appeared via video link in Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday after being charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug.
Brendan Ky, 22, and Tony Nguyen, 30, were also arrested and charged on Monday after the Australian Border Force intercepted sea cargo from Thailand on July 4.
The drug importation charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The sea cargo shipment arrived at the Port of Brisbane and was allegedly concealed in eight wooden crates declared as “UV protective fabrics”, police said.
Subsequent testing found 597kg of methamphetamine valued at $555 million wrapped inside 200 rolls of fabric.
The drugs were then removed by federal officers before they were delivered to a Bowen Hills warehouse by a courier, the court heard yesterday.
Police allege the trio were in the vicinity of the warehouse when the shipment was delivered before two of the men began unravelling the fabric rolls.
The warehouse was under Australian Federal Police surveillance and Martin Nguyen displayed behaviour consistent with a person keeping a lookout at the time, the court heard.
Martin Nguyen then visited a hardware store to purchase electronic scales, the court was told.
All three men were arrested on Monday, with further searches of the warehouse and two vehicles unearthing four mobile phones, about $7000 in cash and tools suspected to be used in accessing the meth.
At the bail application yesterday, prosecutors said traffic controller Martin Nguyen was an unacceptable flight risk.
“In my view it’s a strong case on the basis that strong inferences can be drawn given the conduct observed by AFP officers,” Magistrate Louise Shephard said before denying bail.
“We’re talking millions (of dollars) worth of methamphetamine.”
Ky and Tony Nguyen did not apply for bail yesterday.
The trio – who are all from NSW – will remain in custody and are next set to appear in court on August 1.
ABF Acting Assistant Commissioner James Copeman said the sea cargo shipment could have easily snuck past authorities.
“The sheer volume of methamphetamine hidden within legitimate-looking fabric rolls speaks to the lengths criminal syndicates will go to,” he said.
“But it also highlights the extraordinary capability of ABF officers to detect and disrupt even the most convincing smuggling attempts.”
