By PAUL MILLAR
TWO MEN were arrested as a taskforce swooped on a Norlane shopping strip as part of a crackdown on the importation of illicit drugs this week.
Members of the Geelong Divisional Response Unit and Joint Task Force ICARUS arrested the pair at Labuan Square at 11.20am Wednesday.
The coordinated raid was part of Operation Quantamleap, targeting a syndicate importing drugs through the air cargo system.
Investigators arrested the 28-year-old from Fitzroy and the 21-year-old from St Albans without incident outside the shopping strip’s post office.
Aiba Zarwue appeared in an out-of-sessions hearing in Geelong, charged with attempting to import a marketable quantity of a border-controlled substance and attempting to possess a border-controlled substance.
He was also charged with obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Mr Zarwue was remanded to appear at Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and was further remanded to reappear on 20 November for a committal mention.
Police will allege that the drug charges relate to the importation of 150g of crystal methyl-amphetamine, with a street value of $75,000.
The younger St Albans man was released pending further enquiries.
Prosecutors will allege that the charges follow a seizure by the Australian Border Force.
Operation Quantamleap is an ongoing investigation targeting a syndicate importing illicit drugs through the air cargo system.
People convicted of importing marketable quantities of border controlled drugs face a maximum of 25 years’ imprisonment.
Joint Task Force ICARUS is comprised of personnel drawn from the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and Victoria Police. The task force targets offenders using international mail and air cargo systems for criminal activity.
