People have joked that “anything goes” when you're down under in Australia, but police there were not laughing when they made a huge discovery late last month. 

Hot Sauce for Ice

The Australian Border Force discovered that a shipment of hundreds of Sriracha bottles from the United States did not contain the popular chili sauce: instead, the bottles actually contained $208 million dollars worth of meth weighing in at 880 pounds (or 400 kilos).

Four men were later arrested in connection with the shipment and charged with drug smuggling. The Australian police said that all four men were connected to an elaborate scheme to bring in the methamphetamine and distribute it.

“This detection should serve as a warning to criminal groups that no matter how clever you think you are being in the way that you attempt to conceal and move your drugs, our officers have the skills, technology, and the resources to find them and track down the people who are attempting to bring them in,” said the acting regional commander for the Australian Border Force.

Meth is commonly known as “ice” in Australia, which leads to the question if the smugglers thought they were being clever by smuggling ice in hot sauce bottles.

Meth in Washington

Meth has been surging in usage lately, partly due to the opioid epidemic happening across the country. A Drug Enforcement Agency official said recently, "It's a stimulant, so we believe it's one of the components that's driving the opioid epidemic because many times, the data shows that users associate methamphetamine or use methamphetamine to counteract opioid withdrawal symptoms, physical pain, and lack of energy. They utilize the stimulant to gain energy."

Possessing or trafficking methamphetamine in Washington is a very serious criminal matter that falls under the Violation of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act (VUCSA). Under Washington's  RCW 69.50.206, methamphetamines are classified as Schedule II drugs and carry the most serious VUCSA charges. The amount of meth you are found with will determine the penalty.

If you are charged for possessing less than 2 kilograms of the meth, you will face:

• A maximum of 10 years of incarceration, 
• A maximum fine of $25,000, or
• A combination of imprisonment and fines.

Steve Karimi, VUCSA Defense Attorney

If you have been charged with possession of or trafficking of meth, call the experienced VUCSA defense attorney Steve Karimi right away. He can get you the best possible outcome for your case by building a strong defense. Call the Law Offices of Steve Karimi at 206-621-8777 or fill out a contact form today.