Homebush: ‘Bute’ bust nets $132 million worth of drug set to be distributed via Australia Post

A couple has been arrested in relation to a staggering amount of a drug related to sexual assaults being discovered by NSW police in a warehouse lock-up, set for distribution via Australia Post.

Police will allege that husband and wife Fanrui Meng and Jikun Liu are the masterminds behind a massive drug syndicate moving containers of the drug Butanediol, nicknamed Bute, around Australia using varous means including the mail system.

Mr Meng will face court on Thursday after more than 6.5 tonnes of the drug, believed to be 1,4-Butanediol and worth an estimated street value of $132 million, was seized by Strike Force Camena.

On Monday February 24, officers attached to Burwood Police Area Command conducting a Firearms Prohibition Order compliance check at an address in Croydon located a parcel, sent from a storage facility in Homebush, containing approximately 5 litres of a prohibited drug, believed to be bute.

The parcel was seized for forensic examination.

Police established Strike Force Camena – a joint investigation between officers attached to Burwood Police Area Command and the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad – to investigate the supply of bute.

Following inquiries, police executed a search warrant at a postal facility in Silverwater, where they seized 225kg of a prohibited drug, believed to be bute.

On Tuesday February 25, a search warrant was executed at a post office in Rhodes, where 23 litres of a prohibited drug, believed to be bute was seized.

Following further inquiries, police stopped a vehicle on Nipper Street, Homebush.

The vehicle was searched and police allegedly located approximately 110kg of a prohibited drug, believed to be bute. It was seized for forensic examination.

The driver – Mr Menf – was arrested and taken to Burwood Police Station.

Two further search warrants were executed – one at a storage facility in Homebush and a unit on Liverpool Road, Ashfield.

At the Ashfield address, police allegedly located approximately $28,000 in cash.

At the Homebush address, police allegedly located more than 6.3 tonnes of the same prohibited drug.

Jikun Liu, 28, was arrested at the Ashfield unit and taken to Burwood Police Station.

Meng was charged with supply prohibited drug greater than or equal to large commercial quantity.

He was refused bail to appear before Burwood Local Court on Wednesday, where he was formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Thursday.

Lui was released without charge but following further investigations, about 3.15pm yesterday, police attended a home in Ashfield where she was arrested and taken to Burwood police station.

She was charged with take part supply prohibited drug greater than or equal to large commercial quantity.

She was refused bail to appear before Burwood Local Court on Thursday.

Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.