WAYNE Carey's brother has been charged in relation to a major chemical importation syndicate that police say could have produced $20 million worth of drugs.
Kevin Frederick Carey, known as Dick, was charged by Australian Federal Police yesterday with being a courier in the operation.
Mr Carey, 47, appeared at Melbourne Magistrates' Court and was bailed after surrendering his passport and handing over a $10,000 surety.
He is charged with attempting to possess a border-controlled precursor and attempting to pre-traffic a border-controlled precursor.
Wayne Carey has previously credited Dick with being his greatest supporter as he tries to rebuild his life after several incidents with police.
According to an AFP statement, investigators monitored a consignment from South Africa that arrived in Sydney on June 25.
"The consignment consisted of metal multi-threaded rollers and was destined for an address in Brisbane," it said.
Investigators allege Mr Carey transported the consignment through NSW to an address in Woodstock, north of Melbourne, on July 2.
It's alleged the consignment concealed 22.8kg of precursor chemicals (norephedrine hydrochloride) within the rollers, which could have produced amphetamines worth $20 million.
Mr Carey's barrister, Tony Burns, said: "We will make some decisions in due course about it (his plea)."
He said Mr Carey's mental state was OK. "He's not happy, of course, but he's OK."
Police arrested five people, including Mr Carey, after executing warrants at six addresses in NSW, Queensland and Victoria on Thursday.
Apart from the alleged precursor chemicals, police seized $25,000 cash.
A similar importation was intercepted by Customs on July 2.
The alleged ringleader, a 43-year-old South African, will be charged with attempting to possess a border-controlled precursor, two counts of importing a border-controlled precursor, and one count of conspiring to import a border-controlled precursor.
Others accused are a 42-year-old Queensland man who has been charged with dealing with money or property; he has been bailed to appear at a Brisbane court in three weeks.
Victorians Benjamin John Horn, 37, and Gary Craig Sargent, 44, face the same charges as Mr Carey. They also appeared before magistrate Dan Muling yesterday, and will re-appear in court on October 12.
2 июл 2009
