Sydney ice haul worth almost $500 million is found stuffed inside refrigerators

The mistake that cost drug smugglers half a BILLION dollars: How police found 587kg of ice hidden inside refrigerators after the shipment was labelled ‘electronic ovens’

  • Police and ABF agents have found almost $500million worth of ice in Sydney
  • The drugs had been stuffed inside refrigerators inside a shipping container 
  • The ice was from Singapore and was due to be delivered to a Sydney address 
  • Police said the shipment proved ‘overwhelming’ demand for ice in the country 

Police and Australian Border Force (ABF) agents have found almost $500million worth of ice (pictured) 

Australian Border Force agents have found almost $500 million worth of ice stuffed inside refrigerators in a shipping container from Singapore bound for Sydney’s west. 

Authorities uncovered 585kg of ice inside a shipping container in Port Botany, which arrived in late March.

The huge haul of crystal methamphetamine is understood to be the largest shipment of the drug to be seized this year.

In a bid to avoid detection the drug traffickers had labelled the shipment ‘electronic ovens’.

However, police became suspicious when they saw the shipment contained 11 fridges, and machine X-rays revealed ‘inconsistencies’ with the construction of the appliances.

Police suspect the cartel behind the $438million shipment has links to the Fairfield area, and the huge batch of drugs was due to be delivered to a western Sydney address.

In a bid to avoid detection the drug traffickers had labelled the shipment 'electronic ovens'

In a bid to avoid detection the drug traffickers had labelled the shipment ‘electronic ovens’ 

Authorities uncovered 585kg of ice inside a shipping container in Port Botany (pictured) in late March

Authorities uncovered 585kg of ice inside a shipping container in Port Botany (pictured) in late March

Australian Border Force acting regional commander Garry Low confirmed seven of the fridges had been rammed with 561 packets of ice.

‘The concealment itself was fairly crude. The refrigeration components at the rear of the fridges had been removed and simply replaced with packages of methylamphetamine,’ he said.

‘Over the past year, we have found illicit substances in everything from highlighters to meat mincing machines.

‘No matter how you try and hide it, ABF officers have the expertise and technology to find it,’ Mr Low added.

The huge haul of crystal meth is understood to be the largest shipment seized this year

 The huge haul of crystal meth is understood to be the largest shipment seized this year

New South Wales Police Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Acting Superintendent Damian Beaufils said the shipment was evidence of the ‘unwavering’ demand for ice in the country.

‘Organised criminal groups operate with profit as their priority and the unwavering demand for illicit drugs makes Australia an extremely lucrative market,’ Mr Beaufils said.

‘It’s our job, along with our partners, to seize drugs at every opportunity and target those attempting to bring these poisons into our country,’ he concluded.

Last Friday authorities executed two search warrants for properties in Wetherill Park and Edensor Park.

Police confirmed they had seized documents ‘relevant’ to inquiries as well as electronic storage devices.

The matter is being jointly investigated by NSW Police and Australian Federal Police. 

The matter is being jointly investigated by NSW police and Australian Federal Police

The matter is being jointly investigated by NSW police and Australian Federal Police

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