A MAN has been charged over the importation of 112 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in a container that arrived at the Port of Melbourne this month.  

Australian Federal Police said the meth was concealed in commercial machinery shipped from China to Melbourne.

The container arrived at the port on 5 July and was collected by a Melbourne logistics company. The company transported the container to a factory in Yagoona, New South Wales on 18 July.  

On 19 July the AFP searched the factory and arrested a Surry Hills man, 24, at the premises.

Police also searched a residence in Surry Hills, NSW and found a small amount of drugs at the address.

They also located a disused clan lab in the factory and seized equipment suspected to have been used in the manufacture of drugs.

The Surry Hills man was due at the Downing Local Court on Thursday 20 July charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.

The maximum penalty for the offence is life imprisonment, and police expect further charges will be laid at a later date.

AFP Detective Superintendent Anthony Hall said the methamphetamine could have been sold as about one million individual “hits” on the streets.

“Every single one of those hits had the potential to cause death or serious harm, not to mention significant healthcare system costs and devastating impacts on families affected by illicit drug use,” he said.

“Methamphetamine is a serious threat to the Australian community, and the AFP is focused on continuing to work closely with domestic and international partners to stop this drug making its way into our community.”

ABF Commander Clint Sims said the ABF continues to work with partner law enforcement agencies across the country to disrupt criminal activity at the border.

“We are detecting and seizing enormous amounts of dangerous drugs at the Australian border this year and we will continue to work day and night to reduce their flow, particularly that of methamphetamine, into our community,” Commander Sims said.

“These substances cause real harm to people and that’s why ABF officers dedicate themselves to maintaining the integrity of the border and creating a hostile environment for criminals.”

Police said investigations are ongoing and further arrests are expected.