Meth bust worth $1.7billiion seized in Australia and Canada

More than $1.7billion worth of meth has been found hidden in shipments of canola oil in one of Australia’s biggest ever drug busts. 

A total of four shipments were were allegedly planned to be shipped Down Under between late 2022 and June 2023, with the first being intercepted and the subsequent three not making it out of Canada. 

Almost 3,000 litres of liquid meth was intercepted by police in January, which led officers to uncover the alleged international smuggling plot by March. 

The Australian Federal Police then worked with Canadian police to halt shipments of the drug from leaving Canada en route to Melbourne. 

Six tonnes of liquid and crystal meth were discovered on shipments before being seized by police – equivalent to 19 million hits of the dangerous drug. 

Meanwhile, Victorian police carried out raids and made six arrests in relation to the shipments, dubbed Operation Parkes, in Melbourne’s west on Wednesday.

A total of four shipments were were allegedly planned to be shipped Down Under between late 2022 and June 2023, with the first being intercepted and the subsequent three not making it out of Canada (part of the seizure pictured)

Six men were arrested and charged in the sting, including two men, 38 and 32, who are alleged to be the kingpins in charge of the operation. 

The 38-year-old man from Melbourne is alleged to have links to a Canadian crime network and is accused of being the ‘primary onshore facilitator’ for the imports.

The other man, 32, allegedly used his position within a logistics business to transport the meth. 

The two men now face life in prison and charges of major drug importation and possession.

The other men aged, 51, 28, 26, and 19, are accused of trying to purchase the meth once ashore. 

Six men were arrested and charged in the sting, including two men, 38 and 32, who are alleged to be the kingpins in charge of the operation

The two men now face life in prison and charges of major drug importation and possession 

All six will appear before the court in Melbourne and police have said they expect more to be charged in relation to the alleged syndicate. 

The bust was described as ‘an extraordinary blow to organised crime’ by Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill. 

‘Our message to these international drug lords is very clear: we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement and intelligence partners to crush your operations,’ Assistant Commissioner Hill said.

It comes after two other massive drug seizures recently including a $1billion haul of cocaine bound for WA and almost $1.6billion worth of drugs hidden in marble stone discovered in Sydney.