Ice bust: bra inserts used in record HK$7 billion drug import, police nab three Hongkongers and a mainlander
720 litres of liquid methamphetamine seized in joint operation between Australian and Chinese authorities
Three Hongkongers and a mainland Chinese man have been arrested in connection with the largest seizure of liquid methamphetamine, otherwise known as ice, in Australian history.
The operation led to a record seizure of 720 litres of liquid methamphetamine with an estimated street value of A$1.26 billion (HK$7 billion), Australian Federal Police said on Monday.
Around 190 litres of the liquid methamphetamine, concealed inside thousands of gel bra inserts, was discovered in December when Australian law enforcers examined a consignment that arrived from Hong Kong on Boxing Day last year, according to Australian police.
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“This has resulted in 3.6 million individual hits of ice being taken off our streets with a street value of A$1.26 billion,” said Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan.
This largest seizure of liquid methamphetamine to date is the result of organised criminals, targeting the lucrative Australian ice market from offshore,” he added.
Australian Federal Police Commander Chris Sheehan said the joint operation with Chinese authorities began in December 2015, when the Australian Border Force examined a shipping container out of Hong Kong in Sydney. It originated in mainland China.
That shipping container was found to contain gel bra inserts, and hidden inside those gel bra inserts was 190 litres of liquid methamphetamine.