More than 1,600 people have been arrested and a whopping $93million worth of drugs seized in a police operation to crack down on the narcotics trade.
The massive haul of drugs and cash was uncovered by officers across Australia and New Zealand during Operation Vitreus from August 19 to August 23.
A total of 528 search warrants were executed across both countries during the week-long operation.
Almost 1,400kgs of illicit drugs and more than 2,500 cannabis plants with a street value of about $93milion were seized, along with 71 guns and $2.2million in cash.
More than 2,900 charges were laid during the week as police arrested 1,611 individuals on drug-related charges.
South Australia Police charged a 26-year-old man, who is accused of possessing more than 1,100 LSD tabs, from an address in Adelaide as part of the crackdown.
Victoria Police allegedly uncovered six kilograms of what appeared to MDMA in the suitcases of a man and woman.
The pair were stopped from boarding a ferry in Tasmania.
Police in Australia and New Zealand seized almost 1,400kgs of illicit drugs (pictured) as part of the joint taskforce
Operation Vitreus involved the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
Meanwhile, ACT Police seized more than 1,000 cannabis plants and around 280g of cocaine as part of the operation.
Officers also discovered 42kg of dried cannabis material worth around $3.1million.
A Canadian national was also arrested at Sydney Airport while allegedly attempting to import around 15kg of methylamphetamine into Australia.
Police arrested 1,611 individuals and laid more than 2,900 charges as part of Operation Vitreus (pictured drug paraphernalia seized by police)
Police also seized more than 2,500 cannabis plants with a street value of about $93milion (pictured)
The operation follows on from a recent report by the criminal intelligence commission finding that Australia had the second-highest methylamphetamine consumption per capita.
The damning finding was made following a comparison with 29 other countries.
Australia also ranked 20th out of 32 countries for the consumption of cocaine and 15th out of 33 countries for the consumption of MDMA.
Australia is also the third largest consumer of cannabis out of 20 countries.
Cannabis and methylamphetamine are consumed more than any other illicit drugs in Australia.
The sweeping police raids (pictured) follow on from a recent report by the criminal intelligence commission finding that Australia had the second-highest methylamphetamine consumption per capita
‘The harm caused by drug use can impact, directly and indirectly, on all Australian families and individuals,’ Federal Police Commander Paula Hudson said.
‘The impacts range across the spectrum of health, social and economic harm.’
Methamphetamine remains the most significant illicit drug threat to the Australian community and causes increased healthcare costs of $5 billion annually.
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