Tens of millions of dollars’ worth of liquid meth is found in 9,360 bottles of cooking oil shipped into Australia from Mexico
- About $80million of liquid meth has been seized by Australian authorities
- The 540kg haul from Mexico is the second largest bust of its kind in Victoria
- Investigations are now underway to track down those linked with the syndicate
A huge haul of liquid meth has been seized by federal police after customs agents uncovered about $80.7 million dollars of the drug hidden inside a shipment of cooking oil bottles sent from Mexico.
The slick drug-smuggling operation concealed the about 540kg of Mexican meth in a consignment of 9,360 canola oil bottles, which arrived in Melbourne on March 31.
Investigations are now underway to track down members of the illicit drug syndicate.
A huge haul of liquid meth has been seized by federal police after customs agents uncovered about $80.7million dollars of the drug hidden inside a shipment of cooking oil bottles sent from Mexico (pictured)
The slick drug-smuggling operation concealed the about 540kg of Mexican meth in a consignment of 9,360 canola oil bottles, which arrived in Melbourne on March 31
Detective Acting Superintendent Rebecca Goddard said international drug gangs will go to ‘extreme lengths’ to import lucrative and dangerous substances into the Australian market.
‘Australian authorities continue to slam the brakes on the movement of illicit drugs across international borders and into our communities,’ she said.
‘This multi-million dollar seizure is another strong warning to organised criminal syndicates, both here and abroad, that the AFP and its commonwealth and state law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying, targeting and prosecuting you.’
The haul is the second-largest liquid meth seizure in Victorian history, following a November 2020 bust flown in from Chicago, that netted 560kg.
Liquid meth is the number one illicit substance being smuggled across the American border from Mexico, according to the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
The new tactic used by cartels is proving to be a huge challenge for law enforcement agencies around the world because the narcotic can be so easily disguised as other products such as oil, petrol, or even water.
When the dangerous drug makes it through customs, members of the syndicate simply use basic chemistry equipment to evaporate the solution and turn it back into crystals.
US Customs and Border Protection said that the alleged attempt to smuggle narcotics was foiled on April 17 by officers manning the border crossing at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge. The image above is a file photo of methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth
Forensic testing revealed that out of the two shipping containers of cooking oil that landed in Melbourne, only 269 bottles of the 9,360 actually contained meth, making the drug extremely difficult for Australian authorities to detect.
But Australian Border Force regional commander Craig Palmer said: ‘If criminal organisations have thought of it, chances are, we have seen it.
‘The ABF’s technical expertise and sophisticated technology means that we will find the drugs, regardless of the method of concealment.
‘Working together with law enforcement partners increases our reach so we can disrupt criminal activity like this one, to keep the community safe from harmful drugs.’
Authorities called on anyone who may have information about the shipment to contact police immediately.
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