The Australian Federal Police are describing today’s 4.4 tonne ecstasy bust as the largest in world history.
The AFP says after a 12-month investigation it has finally smashed an international drug syndicate – making 21 arrests and seizing 4.4 tonnes of ecstasy.
Working off information provided by the federal police, Customs investigated a shipping container that had arrived in Melbourne on June 28 last year, discovering pallets of tomato tins, which were found to contain ecstasy tablets.
Examination of the container found more than 3000 tins, each weighing 1.5 kilograms, containing MDMA tablets with an approximate street value of $440 million.
The contents of the container was then switched by police and monitored, culminating in today’s arrests.
“The operation involved the commitment of more than 400 AFP members and demonstrates the dedication and patience of the AFP in ensuring a positive result for the Australian community,” AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty said in a statement.
“This is an extraordinary outcome for law enforcement.”
"When the detail of this is provided, how Customs managed to identify the containers was just absolutely outstanding work.
"It didn't leak. For more than 12 months now we've been sitting on the world's largest seizure of ecstasy. And people have been committed for long hours to try and get a result out of this importation."
Customs CEO Michael Carmody said the illegal operation was sophisticated and well-organised, but that authorities had proved themselves equal to the task.
"It's a result that makes our jobs worthwhile for the Australian community," he told reporters in Melbourne.
"This is what maks getting up in the morning and coming to work worthwhile. [Now] we'll just look for more of it."
During the investigation into the syndicate, the AFP identified another shipping container arriving in Melbourne at around the same time, which contained 150 kilograms of powder that tested positive to the presence of cocaine.
The investigation also uncovered a money laundering operation worth more than $9 million, which the syndicate allegedly used to pay for the drugs.