Australian police seize $700 mln worth of liquid meth in biggest drug bust

The seized liquid would have been enough to make about 500 kilograms of high-grade crystal meth, police said,

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Australian police seize $700 mln worth of methylamphetamine in biggest drug bust
,A quantity of liquid methamphetamine disguised in various packaging is put on display by Australian Border Force officers at the Australian Federal Police headquarters in Sydney, February 15, 2016. Australian authorities said on Monday they had seized A$1.25 billion ($890.5 million) worth of liquid methamphetamine, or "ice", their largest haul of illicit drugs in two years Reuters

Australian police have seized 720 liters of liquid methylamphetamine worth $700 million in the biggest drug bust in the country's history.

The confiscated drug "ice" was hidden among a shipment of silicon bra inserts and art supplies. The seized liquid would have been enough to make about 500 kilograms of high-grade crystal meth, police said.

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

"This is a result of organized criminals targeting the lucrative Australian ice market from offshore," Keenan added.

Four people have been arrested, police said on Monday.

The authorities initially narrowed in on 190 liters of the drug hidden inside a consignment from Hong Kong. The contraband was hidden among thousands of stick-on gel bras. A Hong Kong national was arrested in this case.

This was followed by the discovery of an additional 530 liters of the drug from among art supplies stashed in storage units in Sydney.

Australian agencies worked with the Chinese Narcotic Control Commission in the drug bust.

The arrested men will be produced in a Sydney court next month, where they will face a potential life sentence if convicted.

This article was first published on February 15, 2016
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