Usually, when we come across a story about hardware smuggling, it usually involves incidents like people trying to smuggle ex-crypto mining GPUs across borders or CPUs poorly concealed on a person attempting to get through customs. However, in this particular case, the situation is quite different. Instead of the hardware being the smuggled item, it has been ingeniously used to transport something much more valuable.
Australian authorities recently uncovered a Malaysian man’s attempt to smuggle 100 kg (200 pounds) of methamphetamine into the country. The illicit substances were cleverly hidden inside a collection of PC cases. The suspicious packages, which arrived via an air cargo assignment, raised concerns upon inspection due to the presence of large quantities of white powder.
According to authorities, a laboratory test confirmed that the substance was methamphetamine. They stated that if it reached the people of Australia, it would be equivalent to “one million street-level deals” worth of the substance.
AFP officials apprehended a 45-year-old man who was trying to retrieve the shipment, and he is now facing charges for attempted drug possession. After removing the illegal substances, the cases were safely transported to a storage unit located in Kingsgrove, New South Wales.
The Dell Optiplex models in the cases appear to be the ones in question, and they typically weigh only a few kilograms each. However, the addition of 100 kilograms of unexpected cargo raised suspicions. It is worth noting that Australia has stringent border controls in place, making it highly likely for the drugs to have been detected through various means during the processing of incoming items.
“Disrupting the supply chains of these criminal syndicates is a top priority for ABF officers, who diligently monitor consignments for any potential anomalies,” emphasized ABF Acting Commander Matthew O’Conner.
“They will try to conceal illegal substances in clever hiding spots in order to avoid being detected by us.”
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“Our collaboration and information sharing between our federal and state counterparts will continue to enhance the skills of our officers in detecting and disrupting criminal behavior.”
Indeed, these cavities are quite creative. Although a considerable quantity of hazardous materials has been successfully removed from Australian streets, it is possible that Dell Optiplex cases are once again being sold, with their potential buyers unaware of the fact that their inexpensive case purchase was the subject of a major criminal investigation.
It definitely adds a new twist to the ongoing discussion about purchasing budget GPUs. As a routine part of our job at PC Gamer, we receive PC cases for testing. However, we certainly hope that our next shipment doesn’t surprise us with any unexpected additions that we would rather not have.
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