Fourteen Chinese and Malaysian nationals have been charged over Western Australia's second-biggest methylamphetamine haul, imported on a fishing boat.
The dilapidated fishing boat was raided at Geraldton on the mid-west WA coast this month but no drugs were found on board.
Police later found about 200kg of the drug, worth about $200 million, at suburban properties in East Cannington and Embleton.
Police allege the drugs were brought to shore via small watercraft.
The accused are eight Chinese nationals aged between 37 and 56, who were the crew of the fishing boat, and six Malaysian nationals aged between 24 and 54.
WA Police deputy commissioner Gary Dreibergs said the group was part of a complex transnational drug smuggling syndicate.
"It's extremely sophisticated - it's very complex," he told reporters on Friday.
"They certainly are brazen and they certainly are committed. They are absolutely well organised."
Deputy Commissioner Dreibergs would not comment on how long police suspected the operation had been running or a media report suggesting a link between the bust and a record 320kg meth haul last year.
"These groups overseas, organised crime organisations, have been operating for many many years. In terms of their involvement in Western Australia, I'm not really privy to discuss that," he said.
Australian Crime Commission chief executive Chris Dawson said methylamphetamine was a big problem in WA and the haul could have gone elsewhere around Australia too.
"In the last two years, there's in the order approaching 700kg of crystal methylamphetamine that's been detected in Western Australia," he said.
Australian Federal Police acting assistant commissioner David Stewart said at least two of the accused had been in the state on tourist visas.
They have already faced court, which was closed to the public after authorities had the details suppressed. The suppressions have since been lifted.
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