Zimbabwean Man Arrested in Australia With US$900 Million Worth of Meth ‘Mutoriro’

Zimbabwean Man Arrested in Australia With US$900 Million Worth of Meth ‘Mutoriro’

In a shocking incident, a Zimbabwean man has been arrested in Sydney, Australia, for allegedly attempting to smuggle a staggering 900 kilograms of methamphetamine, known locally in Zimbabwe as ‘mutoriro.’

This enormous quantity of meth, which was hidden inside industrial machinery shipped from the United States to Australia, is estimated to be worth an eye-popping US$900 million.

Also read: Cocaine Ring Bust: Zimbabwean Drug Dealers Jailed in the UK for Running Major Drug Operation

How Zimbabwean Man Was Arrested in Australia

The suspect, 31-year-old Michael Charumbira, was apprehended at a property in Warwick Farm, Sydney last Wednesday, following an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers last month. Alongside Charumbira, police also arrested an unnamed man, who has been released pending further investigations.

Australian Border Force officers intercepted the shipment at Port Botany, detecting and removing 896 kilograms of methamphetamine from the shipping container before it could reach its intended destination in Warwick Farm. Police found the drugs packaged in individual wrappings.

Also read: Police Bust Crossborder Kombi Smuggling Drugs Worth Millions Into Zimbabwe

Allegations and Suspected Operation

Charumbira was allegedly in the process of opening and inspecting the contents of the machinery when police arrested him.

Authorities suspect that the drugs were part of a ‘piggybacking’ scheme, where illegal items are sent to a legitimate business with a history of importing goods and then redirected to criminal groups upon arrival. Police believe the meth was meant to be distributed throughout the eastern seaboard of Australia.

Also read: Zimbabwean Arrested After Submitting Fake Doctor’s Letter To South African Employer

Zimbabwean Man Faces Life in Prison After Being Arrested in Australia With Meth

Some of the packs of meth recovered at the Warwick Farm property (Image: Australia Federal police)(

Charumbira now faces the prospect of life behind bars, having been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. Further arrests are expected, as the authorities believe Charumbira to be part of a larger criminal syndicate.

Also read: Manchester United Football Star Marcus Rashford’s Zimbabwean Brother Arrested for Car Theft

Law Enforcement Response

Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty emphasized the significant impact this bust will have on the drug trade in New South Wales, noting that methamphetamine is the second-most-consumed illicit drug in Australia.

“Methamphetamine is the second-most-consumed illicit drug in Australia, and its impact can be felt across the community, in our homes and in our hospitals,” Fogarty told The Sydney Morning Herald.

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