Federal agencies seize $690 million of ephedrine and arrest four in drug bust
A tip-off from Chinese authorities has led to more than a tonne of the drug precursor chemical ephedrine being seized, which could have been used to produce almost $700 million worth of ice.
A joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force has resulted in four people being arrested over the drug bust.
The AFP said it came after China’s National Narcotics Control Commission tipped off Australian authorities about an organised crime syndicate.
Australian Federal Police estimate the seized ephedrine had the potential to make 922 kilograms of ice, with a street value of about $691.5 million.
"This equates to more than 9.2 million street deals of methamphetamine," the AFP said in a statement.
The drug bust comes weeks after a Mexican drug cartel’s $1.3 billion drugs haul bound for Australia was seized by US authorities, in a major operation that was sparked by a police officer in country Victoria pulling over a small-time drug dealer.
Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police said at the time the record-breaking haul, the largest found in either country, demonstrated a "clear link" between local outlaw motorcycle gangs and Mexican drug cartels.