Australian police make $538 million drug seizure in machines imported from U.S.

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https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australian-police-make-538-million-drug-seizure-machines-imported-us-2024-08-02/

Australian police make $538 million drug seizure in machines imported from U.S.

By Reuters
August 2, 2024 12:53 AM UTC · Updated a day ago

SYDNEY, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Australian police said on Friday they seized about A$828 million ($538 million) worth of methamphetamine hidden inside industrial machinery shipped from the United States.

A 31-year-old Sydney man was charged and remanded in custody in connection with the attempted import of 900 kg (1,984 pounds) of the drug in powdered form concealed in two manufacturing machines, the Australian Federal Police said in a statement.

The investigation was continuing and there could be more arrests, officials said.

The seizure followed an anonymous tip and intelligence from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that suggested drugs were being sent to a Sydney-based furniture store, police said.

[...]

Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Cynthia Osterman

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1. Such BS. They seized 80kg of meth.

At $100 a gram at 50% purity, that is worth about $16 million. I don't know what Aussie street prices are, but it's nothing like that $538 million.

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2. This article says 900 kg, not 80 kg.

Are you going by a different source?

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3. I saw a police report -

https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/victorian-man-charged-alleged-role-80kg-methamphetamine-importation

Maybe there could have been two busts in two days?

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4. That's a different bust.

Last edited Sat Aug 3, 2024, 10:33 AM - Edit history (1)

Here's the AFP report for the one in the OP:

https://afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/828-million-worth-meth-seized-sydney-following-tip

[speak easy]

5. Oh. Got it. ty