A CONSIGNMENT of stereo speakers from Bangkok was used to conceal Australia’s largest onshore methylamphetamine (ice) seizure, authorities say.
Australian Border Force officers discovered the drugs which they say equated to almost 16 million drug deals.
ABF officers inspected a shipping container at the Melbourne Container Examination Facility.
An x-ray showed anomalies within the stereo speakers and when they were taken apart, the vacuum-sealed packages containing drugs were revealed.
In total, 1.596 tonnes of methylamphetamine and 37kgs of heroin were detected with an estimated street value of $1.197bn and $18.5m respectively.
There have been no arrests and ABF and the Australian Federal Police are continuing investigations.
ABF regional commander Victoria Craig Palmer said the record detection would have a significant impact on drug supply in the state.
“Without the sophisticated targeting and detection capabilities of the ABF, these drugs would have made it to the streets of Melbourne and beyond,” Commander Palmer said.
“This is the largest meth bust we’ve ever seen in this country and demonstrates not only the brazen nature of those involved in this criminal activity, but the resolve of the ABF in Victoria and around the country to stop these imports.”
Commander Palmer said the ABF made 43,000 detections of illicit drugs last financial year weighing more than 11.8tonnes.
“So this seizure is equal to more than 13% of the total drugs we seized last financial year,” he said.
