A Western Australian man has been charged after police said they found approximately three and a half grams of methylamphetamine in a ziplock bag wedged between the bacon and egg of a McMuffin meal during a car search.
The arrest on 20 August was part of ongoing investigations into illicit drugs in Broome, in WA’s Kimberley region.
Surveillance and search details
Police said the 39-year-old man was seen entering and leaving a house of interest under surveillance as part of the drug operation, before getting into his vehicle and driving away. He was stopped a couple of streets away for a car search around 2.10pm.
During the search of the car, police said a bag containing hot food from the fast-food chain Chicken Treat was found on the rear floor between the driver’s and passenger seats of the vehicle.
In a video captured by police body-worn camera during the search, officers can be seen rummaging through the fast food bag on the bonnet of the car. Several meal items, including burgers and fries from a number of different fast food outlets, are seen being pulled out of the bag along with the McMuffin burger.
Officer recalls suspicious find
Speaking on a WA police podcast following the arrest, Senior Constable Ben Lucas said the drug-laden food immediately stood out as suspicious.
“That bag was found to contain fresh hot warm lovely smelling Chicken Treat, but at the bottom was a cold discarded McMuffin burger that had been secreted at the bottom of the bag that obviously drew our attention,” he said.
Charges and court appearance
The Derby man has been charged with one count of possession of prohibited drug with intent to sell or supply. He is next due to appear before the Magistrates Court on 9 September.
A woman who was also in the car and present during the search was released by police after questioning.
