An Auburn man charged over the second largest shipment of heroin ever detected on Australian shores has been refused bail.
Sinnadoria Asari, 55, faced Penrith Local Court via video link on Thursday, May 18, charged with importing and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of heroin.
Officers from Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) first intercepted the shipment when it arrived at the Port of Brisbane from Malaysia on March 13, 2023, containing two concrete blocks that weighed almost a tonne.
AFP investigators and ABF officers drilled into the concrete blocks and removed 960 packages, each containing about 350g of what is believed to be heroin.
In total, they uncovered 336 kilograms of the illicit drug which has an estimated street value of $268.8 million.
After the heroin was removed officers released the package, which was marked as solar panel accessories, for a controlled delivery to the intended recipient at Brendale on March 28.
Police allege that Asari used a rented truck to collect the package and transport it to an industrial shed in Mount Druitt on March 30.
It is alleged that Asari returned to the shed the following day and used industrial tools to cut into the concrete and access the heroin hidden inside the display stands.
He was arrested as he left the shed a short time later.
He was formally charged with one count of ‘importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs’ and one count of ‘attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs’ – both carrying maximum penalties of life imprisonment.
AFP investigators then executed a series of search warrants at businesses and homes in NSW and Queensland, including at Brendale and Mount Druitt, as well as Blacktown, Auburn, Cecil Park and Constitution Hill.
Police seized jewelry worth an estimated $700,000 from the Asari’s home as well as electronic devices.
Items seized from other locations included mobile phones, cash, hard drives, notebooks and other parts of the reconstructed consignment.
On Thursday, Asari’s lawyer applied for his release.
“The drugs were hidden inside concrete blocks and there was no way of him knowing what was inside,” he said.
He told the court that his client is in Australia on a bridging visa because “he had to flee Malaysia” after refusing to convert to Islam.
Noting that English is Asari’s second language, he also said it would be easier for Asari to prepared his defence out of custody.
In his closing submissions, he proposed restrictive bail conditions which would effectively place Asari under house arrest.
The prosecution opposed bail and told the court that Asari is allegedly a primary participant in the operation which is being monitored by the AFP.
He also stated that “these sequences carry life imprisonment if proven.”
“He can prepare his case from custody with his solicitors,” he said.
Before handing down her decision, Magistrate Fiona Toose told the court that Asari’s case may not be heard by the NSW District Court for another two years.
“I don’t think he’d be using power tools to get into it [the herion] if he wasn’t actively involved,” she said.
Asari was refused bail and will remain on remand at Parklea Correctional Centre until the next court date.
The matter will return to Penrith Local Court on Friday, June 2.
The AFP have said the 336 kilogram seizure is the second largest onshore detection of heroin in Australian law enforcement history, after a 450 kilogram haul which was seized in Melbourne in 2021.
Formerly with the ABC, Makayla is a graduate of Western Sydney University. She covers a variety of news topics for Parra News.