Five weeks of Customs and AFP operations

This is a joint AFP and Customs fact sheet

TOTAL: 38 charged, 87 charges laid, 14.6 tonnes of drugs prevented from hitting the streets with a street value of $3 billion

14 August: $52.8 million drug operation.

• Four men charged in Sydney.
• 662kg of pseudoephedrine in 45 boxes of fruit juice from Thailand.
• Search warrants were executed in Arndell Park, Illawong, Castle Hill, Dural, Oakhurst, St Marys, Blacktown and Wetherill Park.
• The operation involved NSW Crime Commission, NSW Police, AFP and Customs.

8 August: 23 charged following the world’s largest ecstasy seizure.

• 45 search warrants conducted across Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and NSW.
• A 4.4 tonne ecstasy seizure with a street value of $440 million.
• 150 kilograms of cocaine seized.
• A year long operation involving 400 AFP members, 10,000 hours of surveillance and 185,000 telephone intercepts.
• A joint investigation involving the AFP and Customs with assistance from Tasmania Police, Victoria Police, Australian Crime Commission, AUSTRAC and the police in Asia and Europe.

30 July: Sydney man charged over fantasy import.

• Seizure of 3000 litres of the date rape drug Gammabutyrolacetone (GBL).
• Search warrant executed in Chatswood.
• Additional seizures of GBL and other chemicals.
• The operation involved the AFP and Customs.

14 July: Seven charged over 166kg US drug seizure.

• Estimated street value $31 million.
• Concealed inside massage chairs and foot spas destined for Australia.
• Search warrants executed in Melbourne suburbs of Sunshine, Laverton, Brooklyn and Footscray.
• The operation involved the AFP, Customs and US authorities.

13 July: Chemicals to make $297 million of Ice seized.

• Three men charged in Sydney.
• Search warrants executed in Chipping Norton, Cecil Hills, Kingsford and Campsie.
• $230,000 in cash, 25 kilograms of pseudoephedrine pills, a bank note counter and weapons seized.
• An additional 192 kilograms of pseudoephedrine seized in Thailand.
• The operation involved the AFP, Customs and the NSW Crime Commission.