On Monday 27 February 2017, a sea cargo consignment that arrived in Sydney from the United States was targeted and examined by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers, whom discovered a white substance concealed within 396 bottles labelled as protein powder. Initial testing of the substance returned a positive result for methamphetamine with a total weight of approximately 540 kilograms and a street value of approximately $324 million. Further forensic testing will be conducted to determine the exact weight and purity.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) then began a controlled operation, which involved the delivery of the consignment to a unit in Smithfield in western Sydney.

On Monday evening (6 March 2017), seven men arrived at the unit and allegedly accessed the consignment. The men – all Australian citizens aged between 20 and 31 – were subsequently arrested. Each man was charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug.

The AFP conducted a number of search warrants in western Sydney as part of this investigation. Police found approximately five kilograms of methamphetamine and smaller quantities of ecstasy and cocaine, along with drug paraphernalia, five firearms and ammunition, and $35,000 cash. As a result of these warrants, a 23-year-old woman was arrested at a residence in Green Valley. She was charged with: attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug and attempting to traffic a commercial quantity of a controlled drug.

The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.