Australian police say they have busted a major drug ring after seizing a record haul of methamphetamine and heroin worth $526 million (500 million Australian dollars) that was stuffed into terra cotta pots.
More than 674 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and 555 pounds of heroin were seized as part of an operation that began a year ago when the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration tipped off officials that an international crime syndicate was planning to import drugs to Australia. Police targeted two massive cargo containers containing 3,200 terra cotta pots coming from Thailand.
X-rays of the containers showed what was probably drugs heavily packed into 100 pots, officials said Tuesday in Australia.
The pots were sealed with a putty-like substance to conceal the drugs, officials said.
"The actual concealment itself wasn't particularly sophisticated: terra cotta pots concealed in bulk on pallets within cardboard boxes and then shrink-wrapped," said Mike Pezzullo of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
Officials from the two investigating agencies in Australia said it was the largest seizure of methamphetamine in the country's history and the third largest of heroin.
Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner of Operations Andrew Colvin said that through the course of the investigation, authorities kept close watch on suspects as they tracked the shipment.
Four suspects from Hong Kong and three Australians were arrested as part of the operation, the Australian Federal Police and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service announced. The men face a maximum penalty of life in prison on charges of possession or attempting to possess commercial quantities of methamphetamine or heroin.
“This operation follows the AFP’s most successful year in terms of drug seizures," Colvin said in a news release. “In the 2011/12 financial year, the AFP and its partner agencies seized almost 14 tons of illicit substances bound for drug distribution networks across Australia."
Colvin said that was in large part due to the collaboration between international intelligence groups.
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I knew it was in another country because authorities here only have the guts to bust marijuana dispensaries and teenagers.
Exactly right. Romney and the repubs would never let there investments get taken away.
Looks like it's expensive to party in Australia. 1/2 a Billion worth? Do your math again.
I'm sure the estimated value is based on an exaggerated "retail" price. For example they catch a person with a oz of pot that sells for $200, but if that guy sold it by the joint it would fetch $400. Law enforcement always exaggerates the dollar amount.
But either way, it's a big haul and I'm sure the Aussies are glad to have it off the streets.
I agree that they tend to always exaggerate.
all addicts need to be gathered up, put in a secure prison and allowed to be fed drugs daily until they die.
The only way drugs should be legalized is if we stop all the nanny state laws. I don't care how anyone pollutes their own body but my tax dollars shouldn't go to pay for some junkie's rehab or to pay to take care of their drug exposed children. Kids exposed to meth in the womb are never right. They will never be productive citizens. If we lived in a country were people took responsibility for their actions and didn't expect free health care when they OD on drugs or the state to take care of the kids born with severe disabilities because of their druggie mother's addiction- then go ahead and legalize all the drugs. Until then- drugs should be banned. Inpatient rehab cost 10x what prisons do. If druggies think tax payers should pay for their repeat stints in rehab- they are insane. You chose to use this poison- deal with the consequences.
let's see if you maintain this position when one of your children get addicted
@ Jake I agree but you are a cold heart. How can you say that...You are a spoiled brat with a perfect little life with a mom and dad who loved you. I am sure you never went off the path of life and still call your mom to ask what to eat for lunch. I pray for the babies that have a very hard path ahead of them...J from SF
Banning drugs never has nor ever will work. If the war on drugs was a success then the USA would be drug free. Instead it jails more people than any other country in the world. You think rehab is costly? The associated costs for the war on drugs is incredible. Probably why most south American countries now want to legalize drugs. The war on drugs is a bigger failure than the war on terror
then we need to ban booze too. I am tired of paying for some alcoholics rehab.
Agree 100%, but you know it'll never happen. We live in a welfare state where it apparently is the responsibility of responsible adults to take care of the irresponsible ones as well as their offspring.
We are already paying more to incarcerate drug addicts than it would cost to treat them. And, we're spending more on prisons to house them than we spend on new colleges. Still feel the same way?
I do care how people pollute their bodies. I do not want them to live in my community. addiction leads to crime, and addicts are not functional, can't keep a job and drag down society.
stop pushing your druggie message!
So who should take care of the damaged children? What's your plan?
Don't eat too much red meat, trans fats, french fries hamburgers or large sodas either, it costs the taxpayers millions in Medicare ....
Oh and you can't give your infant baby formula either .....you must breast feed them.
But then you can't really tell how much they are getting either. It could be too little...
The government knows what's best for you. So they can triple the tax on everything but tofu...
Jake, you are making an insane amount of sense right now...
@susan – are you for real?
I bet she's not for fake.
Just when poor Walter got his new enterprise up and running...
no way walt and jesse are pumping out 674 lb using their current pest control method!
ask Walter White, he would know about prices
That is exactly how Mitt Bernie Madeoff with people's Robmoney made his robmoney. By poisoning the masses with their evil vices and their greed and making illegal business transactions. I wonder what is the tax exchange on all that dope. I'm so jealous of these successful doping business people because of their wealth!
I don't think you could possibly fit another republican snub into your comment...
If he was smart he would have hid the dope in his car elevator or perhaps in a Cayman Island safe haven. Or in his horse's butt.
The goes government interfering with job creators. Republicans must be outraged by this government interference.
Why would republicans be mad at the Australian government?
LOL!
I didn't know Aussies were into the "white trash" drugs like meth and h.
Did they catch Walter White?
They don't call him : "RUSH" for nothing
Oh well, back to doctor shopping I guess ..... lol
What about the truck load of cash that come with all that....those dea guys are rich...