A shocking discovery at Melbourne Airport: $8 million worth of methamphetamine hidden in blueberry powder packaging
A 26-year-old Hungarian man was recently jailed for attempting to smuggle a staggering 9 kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia, concealed within blueberry powder packets. The drugs, valued at an estimated $8.3 million, could have been sold as 90,000 street deals. The man, who flew into Melbourne Airport from Los Angeles on December 17, 2024, was paid approximately $14,200 to carry 'watches' into the country and intended to hand them over to a person at a nearby hotel.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers made the discovery, finding the drugs hidden within packets of blueberry powder in his case. The man pleaded guilty to importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, specifically methamphetamine, on October 29, 2025. Detective Inspector Jarrod Ragg of the AFP emphasized the severity of the crime, stating that the seized drugs could have been sold as 90,000 street deals worth an estimated $8.3 million. He also issued a strong warning to the public, advising that anyone offering cash to carry items should be approached with caution, and that claiming ignorance of the illicit nature of the items is not a valid defense.
The man was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison, with a non-parole period of four years, at the County Court of Victoria. This case highlights the relentless efforts of the AFP and ABF to prevent harmful drugs from entering the community and causing harm.
