Police seize $900,000 of MDMA allegedly from Switzerland headed for Sydney's east
Two men will face court on Tuesday after Australian Border Force officials seized six kilograms of MDMA worth $900,000 allegedly imported from Switzerland hidden in packages of water filters.
Border Force officers x-rayed the two packages of water filters upon arrival on March 12. The contents were tested and proved positive to MDMA.
Border Force and NSW Police then undertook a controlled delivery of an inert substance to the alleged intended recipient.
Three weeks later, officers from the NSW Police's Eastern Suburbs Command arrested Italian national Diego Ardimento, 30, and a 22-year-old woman on Oxford Street in Paddington.
Mr Ardimento was charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, while the woman was released without charge.
Mr Ardimento was refused bail when he appeared at the Downing Centre Local Court, and remains behind bars as he awaits his next appearance.
Investigators then executed a search warrant at the Bondi Junction apartment of his co-accused, Antonio D'Amico, 24, later that week, where they allegedly seized drugs, cash, computer equipment and documents.
When officers could not find him, an arrest warrant was issued the following day and a public appeal made on April 17.
On Monday this week, the Italian national was arrested at Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with importing a commercial quantity of MDMA.
He has been refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today.