A sophisticated drug syndicate has been smashed and two Chinese nationals arrested after the Australian Border Force and NSW Police raided 10 Sydney homes and seized more than 300 kilograms of the precursor drug ephedrine.
The ephedrine could have been turned into ice worth $240 million on the street, authorities say. It's the largest ever haul of ephedrine by the border force.
Over the past year, officers at international mail centres intercepted more than 50 packages containing ephedrine hidden inside car radiators, tool boxes, portable coolers and wall hangings.
All of the packages were destined for western Sydney.
The two Chinese men from Campsie, aged 26 and 29, appeared in court this week charged with importing the ephedrine. They face a maximum 25 years in jail if convicted.
The 29-year-old was remanded in custody while the 26-year-old, who was identified as an unlawful non-citizen, was bailed and taken into immigration detention, authorities said.
A further nine Chinese nationals, all illegal non-citizens, have also been detained.
Police began investigating the organised crime network - which allegedly imported the drugs from China and Hong Kong - in March 2016.
The southwest Sydney properties were raided in late February and early March with the two men arrested and charged on Wednesday.
Border force regional commander Tim Fitzgerald told reporters on Friday there would be more arrests.
"Investigators from both the ABF and NSW Police are undertaking further activities as we speak with a view to looking where these particular products are going," he said.
NSW Police acting assistant commissioner Ken Finch said the operation would save lives.
"These people have no regard for the safety of our community and they are killing our community just as surely as if they were holding firearms," he said.
"Some would say ... the war on organised crime is lost. It isn't. Today's result speaks volumes about that."
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