In what has been dubbed the greatest heroin seizure ever recorded in Australia, the country’s police announced on 16 October that they have recovered 450 kilogrammes of the illicit drug with an estimated street value of A$140 million (US$104 million).
The seizure was conducted in the Port of Melbourne, Australia’s largest port, where the officers have detained a Malaysian individual after a massive stash of drugs was discovered in a container containing ceramic tiles en route from Malaysia.
He was then booked with the import and illegal possession of a bulk quantity of a border-controlled narcotic and might be sentenced to life in jail.
The substance recovered from the shipments tested positive for heroin after analysis.
The consignment originated in Malaysia and was intended for a firm situated in Melbourne. Several places in the Victorian state capital were later investigated.
Following the revelation, Acting Assistant Commissioner, Krissy Barrett, of the Australian Federal Police said the finding had been made possible owing to the excellent cooperation amongst foreign police authorities.
“We have a great connection with the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) and in particular the RMP Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department,” she noted. “We continue to work closely in identifying and dismantling transnational organised crime syndicates that attempt to damage both our nations and earn millions of dollars of revenues from illegal activities.”
According to Barrett, police saved one life for every two kilos of the narcotic rendered inaccessible in the Australian communities.
“It is essential to emphasise that in addition to the arrests made, the major consequence of this operation is the saving of an estimated 225 lives” she highlighted.
Ankur Kundu
Correspondent
