AS part of a joint drug trafficking investigation, detectives from the Trident Taskforce have arrested two people and seized significant quantities of Gamma Butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4 Butanediol.

The operation, which involved Victoria Police, Australian Federal Police, and Australian Border Force personnel, commenced earlier this month after 600 kilograms of border-controlled substance GBL was detected hidden inside an incoming sea cargo consignment.

Two further attempted imports of 1,4 Butanediol were also detected by Australian Border Force as part of the investigation and seized.

The chemicals are valued at more than $700,000.

Investigators executed a search warrant at Chetwynd Street, North Melbourne and arrested a 28-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman.

Further search warrants were subsequently executed at addresses in Lynch Street, Sunshine and Sussex Street, Pascoe Vale.

Police seized a number of items from the three addresses including two firearms, cash, drugs, pre-cursor chemicals and laboratory equipment.

Australian Border Force acting assistant commissioner James Watson noted the expertise of the ABF in the detection of dangerous substances and its commitment to disrupting criminal activity.

“ABF officers are deployed at ports across the country to scrutinise cargo. GBL is a colourless liquid without a strong odour. Despite that, our officers successfully detected the GBL that was hidden in a sea cargo consignment,” he said.

Trident Taskforce detective inspector Craig Darlow also commented on the operation.

“Australian Border Force detected a number of consignments that led to these significant seizures, resulting in an extremely large quantity of harmful drugs being prevented from entering the community.

“We’re also again seeing the seizure of guns during a drug investigation, which again highlights the strong links between illicit drugs and firearms,” he said.