Australian authorities intercepted a significant shipment of methamphetamine, seizing 46 kilograms of the drug concealed within a forklift counterweight at Port Botany, New South Wales. The operation was executed by officers from the Australian Border Force (ABF) on February 11, 2026, following anomalies detected during x-ray screening of a shipping container.
Upon further inspection, officers discovered 46 one-kilogram packages of methamphetamine hidden inside the 1,200-kilogram forklift counterweight. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has taken possession of the drugs, and investigations are currently ongoing.
In a statement, AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden emphasized the potential harm the drugs could have caused if they had reached Australian communities. “Stopping this shipment means stopping millions of dollars in criminal profit and preventing immeasurable harm to Australian families,” said Blunden. He reiterated the AFP’s commitment to identifying and dismantling the criminal networks involved in trafficking such dangerous substances.
The ABF Superintendent Jared Leighton also commented on the operation, highlighting the importance of collaboration between domestic and international partners in maintaining the integrity of Australia’s borders. “This seizure represents a major disruption to organised criminal networks and the harm they seek to inflict on the Australian community,” Leighton noted. “Every detection stopped at the border prevents serious harm, and this example highlights the expertise and professionalism ABF officers bring to every examination.”
The successful interception of this shipment serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in combatting drug trafficking and organized crime. The authorities remain vigilant in their efforts to protect communities from the dangers posed by illegal substances.
