A joint operation in Sydney has busted a massive ice syndicate in what officials say is the largest drug seizure in the nation's history.
More than 720 litres of methamphetamine has been seized in the operation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the NSW Police, Australian Border Force, the Australian Crime Commission and the NSW Crime Commission.
"This has resulted in 3.6 million individual hits of ice being taken off our streets with a street value of $1.26 billion," Justice Minister Michael Keenan told reporters in Sydney on Monday.
Officials said the operation began in December last year when the Australian Border Force examined a shipping container out of Hong Kong.
"That shipping container was found to contain gel bra inserts and hidden inside those gel bra inserts was 190 litres of liquid methamphetamine," said Commander Chris Sheehan.
An additional 530 litres of liquid methamphetamine were found during the investigation by joint organised crime investigators.
"These drugs were concealed inside art supplies housed in five storage units in Sydney in the suburbs of Miranda, Hurstville, Padstow and Kingsgrove," Mr Sheehan said.
Four people have been charged.
A 33-year-old Hong Kong national was charged over the original seizure.
Following his arrest, another three Hong Kong nationals - a 59-year-old man, a 37-year-old man, and a 52-year-old woman - were arrested and charged over the drugs located in the storage facilities.
"This has been a very good day for Australia law enforcement and a very bad day for the organised criminals that have targeting the Australian drug market," said Mr Keenan.
