Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers have arrested 16 people across Australia following what Customs is calling the world’s largest ecstasy bust.
The AFP says 4.4 tonnes of the drug has been seized and people have been arrested in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia.
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The pills had a street value of $440 million and were found packed in more than 3,000 tomato tins in a shipping container which arrived in Melbourne on June 28, 2007.
The drugs were substituted for an inert substance and the shipping container was monitored.
On July 24 this year Customs and the AFP intercepted another shipping container in Melbourne, which was found to contain 150 kilograms of a white powder which appeared to be cocaine after testing.
The AFP executed 45 search warrants this morning as part of the investigation into an international drug syndicate.
Some of those who have been arrested are alleged to be involved with major drug trafficking in Australia.
The AFP says the investigation also indentified a money-laundering operation worth more than 49 million.