Housing commission to suspected international meth importer: The Australian man named in Four Corners investigation

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A Four Corners investigation has identified a man suspected of being behind hundreds of kilos of methamphetamine hitting Australia's shores.

Australian man Daniel Rodney Badger is being named for the first time as part of the months-long investigation into crystal meth, or "ice".

The 38-year-old listed a Western Sydney housing commission property as his address in 2016 and may currently be living in Vietnam or Cambodia.

A video posted online in 2019 shows his lavish wedding in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr Badger's wedding in Vietnam.(YouTube)

In 2022, it's believed he obtained Cambodian citizenship and got a new Khmer name - Sovannarith Sen.

Four Corners understands Mr Badger is now on the Australian Federal Police's "high-value target" list.

The list names fewer than 100 people who police allege are having a significant impact on criminal activity in Australia - including major drug importers.

AFP deputy commissioner Ian McCartney told Four Corners, "Daniel Rodney Badger is of significant interest to the AFP".

Four Corners made attempts to contact Mr Badger and send him a list of detailed questions. It did not receive a response.

Mr Badger is of significant interest to the AFP.(YouTube)

As part of its broader investigation, Four Corners has spoken with current and former meth dealers, cooks, enforcers and runners with knowledge of the South-East Asian supply chain.

"Over 70 per cent of our major targets that are organising drug importations into Australia actually reside offshore," deputy commissioner McCartney said.

Housing commission to suspected meth importer

Mr Badger listed a humble housing commission home in Western Sydney as his address in 2016.

A year later he became a major shareholder in a multi-million Vietnamese export company.

The company says it exports fertilisers to Australia and it has an extensive logistics network, including bonded warehouses - a place where goods can be stored.

Mr Badger held shares in a fertiliser company.

Four Corners does not suggest that the company has any involvement with an illegal drug trade.

Photos posted on social media in 2017 show Mr Badger sporting new tattoos.

Mr Badger's tattoos.(Facebook)

Mr Badger sold his holdings in the fertiliser company in 2018.

In 2020, he opened a car wholesale business in Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr Badger's parents still live in Western Sydney. They told Four Corners they hadn't seen him for a few years.

Asked about his son's alleged involvement in the meth trade, his father said: "I didn't know … and I would be quite ashamed if he is."

Major meth market

Australia is one of the most lucrative meth markets in the world.

Around 10 and a half tonnes of meth - mostly ice - was consumed in Australia in the year to August 2023, a 17 per cent increase on the year before. It was more than double the amount of cocaine consumed in the same period.

Australians spent an estimated $10 billion on meth in that time, despite its devastating consequences.

Ice is a highly addictive stimulant linked to chronic physical and mental health problems.

"I think this concept of party drugs is completely incorrect," deputy commissioner McCartney said.

"These drugs have such a disastrous impact on the Australian community."

Stopping major players in South-East Asia won't necessarily stop the supply coming into Australia.

While governments in the West have been fighting the flood of drugs from the region for decades, the frontline has now shifted to meth coming in from North America.

Deputy commissioner McCartney said the AFP is working with its international partners on a two-pronged strategy to both seize illegal drugs destined for Australia, and effect the arrest and prosecution of those behind the organisation of their importation.

"The AFP needs to tackle crime at its source," he said.

"We have pictures of all of the high-value targets on the wall, and we're just working through them one by one and ticking them off.

"We know where these people are. We know what countries they're in. We know where they live … where they frequent, and we are coming after them."

The Cambodian government did not respond to questions about Mr Badger.

Watch the Four Corners documentary, 'Meth Highway', tonight from 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.

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Research: Dylan Welch