SYDNEY, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Six people have been arrested in Australia in relation to the United States' biggest ever domestic seizure of the drug methylamphetamine, also known as ice.
A joint U.S. and Australian investigation led to the seizure of the drugs which were due to be shipped in January, where they would fetch an estimated 915 million U.S. dollars.
Australian authorities alerted their counterparts in the United States who pounced on the consignment before it could leave American shores.
Officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Victoria Police arrested six people on Thursday in the eastern states of Victoria and New South Wales with alleged ties to a U.S. based organized crime syndicate operating in California.
"This is the biggest ever seizure of methylamphetamine - more than 1.7 tonnes - stopped before it had a chance to reach Australian streets," AFP assistant commissioner Bruce Hill said.
"I wish to thank our U.S. counterparts for their expert involvement in this investigation and strong support of our efforts to keep these drugs off Australian shores."
As well as 1,728 kg of methylamphetamine, the shipment which was labeled as "audio equipment," also contained 25 kg of cocaine and 5 kg of heroin.
Australian police executed search warrants across two states resulting in the arrest of two U.S. nationals and four Australians. During the raids police also seized large amounts of drugs and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash.
"According to our National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program data, Victoria is estimated to consume just over 2 tonnes of methylamphetamine each year," Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission state manager Victoria Operations Jason Halls said.
"Removing 1.7 tonnes of methylamphetamine before it reaches our streets will have a huge effect on the illicit drug market."
