Vic: Record heroin seizure will help crack drug ring, police
By Heather Gallagher and Nick Lenaghan
MELBOURNE, April 17 AAP - A record seizure of 40kg of heroin in Victoria would helppolice crack an international drug ring, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said today.
Qwang Lee, 34, a Singaporean, Kiam-Fah Teng, 45, and Yau Kim Lam, 44, both Malaysians,have been charged over the seizure at Lorne on Victoria's south-west coast.
AFP general manager (southern) Graham Ashton said a ship carrying the heroin, whichhas a street value of about $60 million, was met by a dinghy close to Lorne and broughtashore early yesterday morning.
A short time later, police arrested Lee and Teng when they allegedly found 114 blocksof white powder concealed inside black waterproof bags in their vehicle.
"We think this is a sizable importation, not only in quantity, but in the type of syndicatethat we've been attacking," Mr Ashton told reporters.
"We're certainly hopeful that the information that we've now gained will enable usto set about dismantling the rest of the syndicate."
Lam was arrested late yesterday in Geelong.
Police believe the trio were in Australia on tourist visas.
Mr Ashton said the AFP had been working on Operation Sorbet for several months withVictorian and Tasmanian police and their peers internationally.
He refused to give details of the boat the drugs were imported on or to say which countrythe drugs had come from within "The Golden Triangle".
Mr Ashton said the heroin, which was in clear plastic bags with red labels saying UOGlobeBrand 100%, was high grade.
While the three suspects were expected to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Courttoday, the hearing was adjourned because Lee is ill.
Lee and Teng face charges of possessing a prohibited import and aiding and abettinga prohibited import between March 27 and April 16.
Lam faces one count of possessing a prohibited import.
Mr Ashton said Lee had been hospitalised suffering flu-like symptoms which could bethe deadly SARS virus.
In further developments, police believe a man's body found at Lorne yesterday couldbe linked to the drug ring.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Simon Overland said the deceased was an Asianman aged between 30 and 40 and an autopsy report had found he drowned.
Mr Ashton said the AFP believed the dead man was a member of the landing party.
Attorney-General Daryl Williams described the seizure as a tremendous success in preventinga significant quantity of illegal drugs from reaching Australian streets.
The three men will face court again on April 23.
AAP hmg/dk/gl/de
KEYWORD: LEE NIGHTLEAD (WITH PICS)
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