24th May, 2023
Australian authorities announced on Wednesday that they recovered more than 300 kilogrammes of methamphetamine hidden in steel gear that shipped in Sydney from Mexico.
The substance, popularly known as meth or ice, was discovered split into 79 circle-shaped chunks housed within two lead-lined tubs within a steel hydraulic press that arrived in Sydney by ship on April 18.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Border Force (ABF) issued a joint statement.
According to authorities, the estimated street value of the meth was more than 273 million Australian dollars (180 million dollars).
The AFP was now looking for information in order to identify the criminal organisation responsible for the importation.
“This seizure shows the extremes that drug trafficking syndicates will go to in their bids to smuggle illicit drugs into Australia because of the profits they can make,’’ said AFP Detective Sergeant Salam Zreika.
ABF Inspector Marc Rea said the expertise of officers would detect these consignments however creative the smuggling attempts are.
“In this case, even thick steel couldn’t dampen the determination of our officers in locating the concealed methamphetamine deep inside the hydraulic press,’’ Rea said.
dpa/NAN