Sky News reports…
Australian Border Force officers have discovered a further one tonne of methamphetamine after ongoing investigations into suspicious shipping containers as three people were arrested over a separate bust of drugs stashed behind the headlights of a vintage Bentley.
New South Wales Police and Border Force offices have seized more than 1.8 tonnes of methamphetamine in Australia’s largest drug bust on record.
The Australian Border Force had intercepted two dozen shipping containers that arrived into Sydney’s busy Port Botany last month after it received a tip off.
Officers discovered “anomalies” during x-ray scans of four containers of marble stone before further inspection led them to find ice concealed inside the material.
The product was broken down and 748 kilograms of methamphetamine – with an estimated street value of $675 million – was removed.
But ongoing investigations and further inspections of other shipping containers from the UAE led them to find a further 1,060 kilograms of ice also inside marble stones.
The busts over recent weeks means almost two tonnes of ice have been taken off Australian streets worth around $1.6 billion.
Three men – aged 24, 26, and 34 – were arrested and charged last week for their alleged involvement in the importation. The trio remain before the courts.
Further investigations into shipping containers of marble stones uncovered one tonne of ice after earlier inquiries saw 748 kilograms seized. Picture: NSW Police
The busts over recent weeks means 1800 kilograms of ice have been taken off Australians streets worth around $1.6 billion. Picture: NSW Police
The ABF also revealed it found more drugs concealed in a vintage Bentley car inside a separate shipping container consignment from Canada.
A 1960 Bentley S2 declared inside the container underwent scans after officers noticed some “anomalies” about the classic vehicle.
NSW Police dismantled parts of the Bentley and discovered 161 kilograms of ice and 30 kilograms of cocaine strategically hidden behind the headlights.
The ABF also revealed it found more drugs concealed in a vintage Bentley car inside a separate shipping container consignment from Canada. Picture: NSW Police
NSW Police dismantled parts of the Bentley and discovered 161 kilograms of methamphetamine and 30 kilograms of ice strategically hidden behind the headlights. Picture: NSW Police
Officers searched a Rooty Hill home in Sydney’s west where they arrested and later charged two men aged 23 and 24 with a number of drug offences. Picture: NSW Police
Officers searched a Rooty Hill home in Sydney’s west where they arrested and later charged two men aged 23 and 24 with a number of drug offences.
A vehicle stop in the NSW Northern Rivers town of Ballina on Thursday about 2:30pm also netted 2.2 kilograms of ice and more than $1.1 million of cash .
The 25-year-0ld man behind the wheel was arrested and charged. All three men were refused bail and will appear in court on Friday.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said in a press conference last week the seizure of the 748kgs of ice equates to about 7.5 million individual deals.
“We suspect the impact of this seizure will be felt throughout Sydney and NSW in the coming months,” she told reporters last Thursday.
“Sadly, Sydney’s drug market is one of the largest in the country, with more methylamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA consumed here than any other state.
“Yesterday’s operation was about stopping the revenue stream for these groups and further harming and dismantling their membership.”
Commissioner Webb described the criminal syndicate the men were allegedly apart of as “well-equipped and highly-sophisticated”.
