$1 billion drug bust in Australia

By Juliet Perry, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 8:32 PM EST, Mon February 15, 2016
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Meth found in bra inserts and art supplies
01:49 - Source: CNN

Story highlights

Four charged over the importation and manufacture of 720 liters of methylamphetamine

Drug was seized from a shipment bra inserts and art supplies

CNN  — 

Australian police have seized $1 billion Australian dollars’ worth of the drug “ice” from a shipment of silicon bra inserts and art supplies, the country’s federal police said, worth approximately US$700 million.

According to authorities, the bust is one of the biggest in Australia’s history, and the largest seizure of liquid methylamphetamine ever.

“This has resulted in 3.6 million individual hits of ice being taken off our streets,” said Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan.

Four people have been charged over the haul, which included 720 liters of the drug, the Australian Federal Police said Monday.

Australian customs discovered around 190 liters of liquid methylamphetamine hidden inside a shipment of gel bra implants from Hong Kong. A further 530 liters were found in art supplies stashed in Sydney.
Australian customs discovered around 190 liters of liquid methylamphetamine hidden inside a shipment of gel bra implants from Hong Kong. A further 530 liters were found in art supplies stashed in Sydney.
The haul is one of the biggest in Australia's history.
The haul is one of the biggest in Australia's history.
Rick Rycroft/AP
The Australian Border Force said this confirmed what they already knew, that organized crime was getting "very creative" in how they moved drugs around the world.
The Australian Border Force said this confirmed what they already knew, that organized crime was getting "very creative" in how they moved drugs around the world.
The bust equated to 3.6 million individual hits of "ice" being taken off the streets. "Methylamphetamine poses -- by far -- the greatest threat to the Australian public of all illicit drug types, and by a significant margin," said Australian Crime Commission NSW State Manager Warren Gray.
The bust equated to 3.6 million individual hits of "ice" being taken off the streets. "Methylamphetamine poses -- by far -- the greatest threat to the Australian public of all illicit drug types, and by a significant margin," said Australian Crime Commission NSW State Manager Warren Gray.
Four people have been charged over the importation and manufacture of 720 liters of methylamphetamine.
Four people have been charged over the importation and manufacture of 720 liters of methylamphetamine.
One Chinese national and three Hong Kong nationals have been arrested.
One Chinese national and three Hong Kong nationals have been arrested.
Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan said that all charges could result in life imprisonment.
Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan said that all charges could result in life imprisonment.
Chinese authorities are working with the Australian Police in an effort to try and combat the international "ice" smuggling market.
Chinese authorities are working with the Australian Police in an effort to try and combat the international "ice" smuggling market.
$1 billion drug bust in Australia

Australian customs first discovered around 190 liters hidden inside thousands of stick on gel bras in a shipment from Hong Kong in December of last year.

Delivery of the shipment was tracked to a storage facility where a Hong Kong national was arrested.

An additional 530 liters of the drug were then found concealed in art supplies stashed in storage units in Sydney.

Authorities have since arrested one Chinese national and two further Hong Kong nationals in relation to the importation and manufacture of the drug.

‘Organized offshore criminal gangs’

“This is a result of organized criminals targeting the lucrative Australian ice market from offshore,” said Keenan.

Officers stand by a display of confiscated drugs in Sydney.
Officers stand by a display of confiscated drugs in Sydney.
Rick Rycroft/AP

“Whilst Australians continue to have such an appetite for this mind destroying drug, organized criminal gangs will continue to target the Australian market.”

He added that as well as local agencies, the operation had been informed by the Chinese Narcotic Control Commission, as part of a task force set up specifically to try and combat the international ice smuggling market.

“It’s well-known that China is a very significant source country for methylamphetamine, not just here in Australia but around the world,” said Australian Federal Police (AFP) State Manager NSW Commander Chris Sheehan.