(Newswire.net — February 16, 2016) —Australian police have revealed that the liquid methamphetamine was hidden in boxes in silicon bra inserts and art supplies and is worth 1.26 billion Australian dollars, approximately US $700 million.
This is the largest seizure of liquid drugs in Australia, commented the country’s federal police, reports the CNN.
A ton of high-quality crystal methamphetamine could be made from these liquids, said Australian Federal Police commander Chris Sheehan.
He explained that the operation began in December 2015 when the Australian Border Force examined a shipping container in Sydney out from Hong Kong. It originated in mainland China.
In the container the police found 190 liters of liquid methamphetamine hidden inside bra inserts, replacing the gel that is normally there.
Due to their find, Australian Federal Police began an investigation and found an additional 530 liters of liquid methamphetamine in five storage’s in Sydney inside art supplies.
Australian Minister of Justice Michael Keenan said that this operation was successful because of the cooperation between Australian Federal Police and China’s National Narcotics Control Commission.
In November 2015 they established a common unit to investigate criminal groups dealing in methamphetamine trade. They work together to collect information on drug production, warehousing, and the roads through which the methamphetamine is imported in from south-east China into Australia.
Four people linked with this historic drug seize were arrested in Australia. In January, a 33-year-old man from Hong Kong was arrested, and later, a 37 year old man and 52 year old woman, and a 59 year old Chinese national.
All of them are charged for taking part in the manufacture of a prohibited drug for sale.
Australian Federal Police commander Chris Sheehan said that the people they have arrested were significant players within this criminal network, and if they get convicted it will likely be a life imprisonment.