James Hilsum
An enormous stash of methamphetamine which equates to an astonishing 1.8 metric tons (2 US tons) has been found in Australia.
This incredible discovery occurred in Sydney, and the police claim it is a the largest-ever seizure of the drug Down Under.
It smashed the previous record meth haul of 1.6 metric tons (1.8 U.S. tons), which was found in Melbourne after being transported from Bangkok in April 2019. The drug was hidden in speakers and led to three people being charged with drug offences.
The Irish Examiner reports that three men were arrested after finding 748 kilogrammes or 1,649 pounds of the drug that were hidden in 24 containers, which arrived from the Middle East.
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The three men arrested are aged 24,26 and 34, with the trio looking at potential life sentences if found guilty of drug trafficking. They have since been refused bail after appearing in court.
A separate finding of 1,060 kilograms (2,337 pounds) of the drug were found in 19 containers which also arrived at the same place in Port Botany.
The drug was hidden inside marble, and the intended destination was a factory in western Sydney. It is not clear how often the factory had been used.
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The street value of drugs in Australia is much higher than in many other countries, and police believe the value of the haul is worth 1.6 billion Australian dollars ($1.1 billion).
Police Detective Chief Supt. John Watson said: “This seizure will be felt for weeks to come by many high, mid and lower-level suppliers.
“The Middle Eastern region is probably our main focus. But I certainly wouldn’t restrict our investigation to just that region.”
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No further arrests have been made since the seizure, and police are now focusing on revealing the identity of the overseas suppliers.
Another large haul of meth was discovered in Thailand in December last year, believed to be worth $88million.
Police discovered the meth following a tip-off by an informant, who revealed when the drugs were due to be shipped.
A report from Thai PBS World claims that 24 cardboard boxes contained stacks of crystal meth, after being X-rayed.
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Taiwan was the intended destination for the drugs, according to a customs official, and the haul could have been sold for up to $88 million.
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