Daisy Phillipson
Authorities over in Australia have seized AU $25 million (US $17m/£14m) worth of liquid methamphetamine disguised as olive oil.
Sounding like something straight out of a Breaking Bad episode, an anti-gangs squad led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) carried out the massive bust as part of their ongoing investigation into an organised crime gang.
In a statement shared today (August 12), the AFP confirmed that officers from its Eastern Command and the Brisbane National Anti-Gangs Squad uncovered the drugs on 30 July.
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They were found hidden in a huge shipment of olive oil on a truck in the Sydney suburb of Fairfield, with police estimating them to be valued at $25.8 million – the equivalent of more than two million street level deals.
AFP NAGS detective superintendent Jason McArthur said the AFP probe suggested the meth load involved a cartel with international links.
Speaking about the bust, he said: "Australian-based organised crime groups have an international reach and will collaborate with known offenders residing offshore.
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"The AFP, working with key partners in the National Anti-Gangs Squad, has successfully prevented this significant quantity of methamphetamine from hitting Australian streets, and stopped millions of dollars of drug profit flowing back into the syndicate to fund future criminal ventures.
"Illicit drugs like methamphetamine in the community create a domino effect of damage to Australians, including domestic violence, increased strain on the health system and community violence, as gangs fight for turf to sell their dangerous drugs.
"The investigation into the syndicate responsible for importing this shipment into Australia is ongoing and they should be on notice that we are ready and we are coming for them."
This isn't the first time drugs smugglers have used food to conceal their illegal cargo.
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Earlier this year, the UK Border Force seized cocaine with a street value of more than £300 million, which had been hidden within a container of 20 banana pallets.
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The pallets were inspected by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Border Force officials, with five of the containers carrying wrapped packages of white powder, which tested positive for the presence of cocaine hydrochloride – used to make crack cocaine.
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