Man faces six import charges
Drug to cook fantasy found
A GOLD Coast man has been charged with importing from China $450,000 worth of a chemical substance used to cook the drug fantasy.
He is accused of trying to mask it as cleaning and skin care products.
Dean Gary Joseph, 37, is expected to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday after 120 litres of gamma butyrolactone (GBL) was allegedly found in air cargo consignments that arrived in Sydney and Melbourne last November.
The maximum penalty for the offence is life behind bars.
Police allege the GBL was detected inside packages labelled as cleaning supplies, skincare products and fishing gear. But inside the boxes were plastic bottles filled with GBL, which is used to manufacture the synthetic drug fantasy, it is alleged. The haul has an estimated street value of $450,000.
Joseph, who lives with his parents in Clear Island Waters, was arrested on Wednesday and taken into custody by the Queensland Joint Organised Crime Task Force.
AFP detective Acting Inspector Scott Curtis said investigations into the drug syndicate were ongoing.
“GBL is a dangerous substance, normally an industrial chemical solvent found in paint strippers. It is highly addictive and can result in users slipping into comas, or even death,” he said.
“Our investigations into who is behind this importation are just getting started. We will be targeting anyone trying to
make money from putting the lives of Australians at risk.”
Joseph was on bail with a $50,000 surety at the time of his arrest.
He is also facing court on more than 50 offences including fraud, forgery, possessing counterfeit money, weapons and dangerous drugs and receiving tainted property.
Investigations into the man began in November 2020.
Joseph has been charged with six counts of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.
ABF Commander Operations Queensland Chris Waters said the arrest was a result of co-operation between Australian law enforcement agencies.
He said Joseph’s arrest would “disrupt” the drug syndicate that had been operating.
The task force responsible for the arrest is made up of the AFP, QPS, ABF, Department of Home Affairs, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the ATO, and AUSTRAC.
When contacted, Joseph’s solicitor Chris Hannay said his client intended to apply for bail. “These are historical charges. I have spoken to his family and he has been adhering to his strict bail conditions,” he said.