- 275 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine worth hundreds of millions of dollars has been seized.
- Eight people have been charged.
- The Drug was found in three shipping containers from China delivered to an industrial estate in Melbourne’s outer-east.
Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police following a tip off, found the drugs hidden under the floorboards of containers from China.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Report says :
A successful operation conducted by the Victoria Joint Organised Crime Task Force (JOCTF) has resulted in charges being laid against one Malaysian and seven Australian citizens for drug offences, and the seizure of approximately 275 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, with a street value of around $275 million.
The multi-agency operation commenced in February in Melbourne following intelligence identifying this syndicate as being allegedly responsible for the importation of illicit drugs into Australia. Subsequent investigations identified a number of shipping consignments linked to this syndicate. Three shipping containers were intercepted and were searched by authorities. Approximately 275 kg of crystal methamphetamine was secreted under the floorboards of three shipping containers. As part of a controlled operation, the containers were delivered last week to an industrial estate in Bayswater. Subsequently, a number of people accessed the containers and search warrants were executed in the Melbourne suburbs of South Yarra, Braybrook, Bayswater, Brunswick, Box Hill and Glen Waverley.
This is the biggest methamphetamine seizure in Victoria this year.
The eight men are aged between 24 and 34. Three were charged with commercial drug importation offences and the five others were charged with attempting to possess and trafficking a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine.
The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.
Investigations remain ongoing and further charges have not been ruled out.
This seizure and arrests are the result of a four-month investigation by the JOCTF, with the assistance of AUSTRAC. Today’s results bring the total seizures for this investigation to more than 300kg of methamphetamine and $1 million cash.
During this operation the AFP worked with Chinese authorities on Task Force Blaze, which investigates criminal syndicates trafficking ice to Australia and internationally.
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Source: Australian Federal Police
