Australia, July 28 -- New South Wales Land and Environment Court issued text of the following judgement on June 27:

1. On 12 August 2023, the Offender, who was born in Iran and was a Canadian citizen but at the time was mainly resident in Iran, arrived in Australia. His sole purpose of coming to this country was to be involved in the manufacture of illicit drugs, in particular methamphetamine. He rented a motor vehicle and bought various items associated with drug manufacturing, including a large saucepan, large gas burner, strainers, spoons, a gas tank, an air compressor, and protective clothing.

2. The Offender attended premises in Gladesville between 1 and 5 September 2023, and over that five-day period, was there for extended periods from morning until late at night. During that time, he was manufacturing methamphetamine.

3. In the premises was a fully operational and elaborate clandestine illicit drug laboratory. There was little furniture or other items to indicate that the house was used as a residence.

4. When Police arrived on 6 September 2023, there was a large number of containers of prohibited drugs, at various stages of refinement. Specifically, there was nearly 30kg of methamphetamine, 17.6kg of which had been refined to the point so as to be usable.

5. The Offender was arrested and gave an interview to Police, where he said he did not rent or use the premises for living purposes but said he did use that address to receive mail and packages from online orders.

6. Consistent with the Offender being at the premises regularly, his fingerprints were found at the premises, as was his DNA.

Arrest and charges

7. The Offender was charged with "manufacture a prohibited drug - large commercial quantity" in breach of s 24(2) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW). He was arrested on 6 September 2023 and has been bail refused since that date. It is common ground between the Crown and the Offender that he is entitled to have any sentence of imprisonment imposed backdated so as to commence on 6 September 2023.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/197a41aa0ecca27b52ddfea7)

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