$1.29 billion worth of ice seized in record drugs haul

Two Sydney men have allegedly been caught up in the biggest ice haul in United States history with cops stopping a whopping $1.29 billion worth of the drugs bound for Australia.

Two Sydney men have allegedly been caught up in the biggest ice haul in United States history with cops stopping a whopping $1.29 billion worth of the drugs bound for Australia.

Chi Cuong Vu and Van Dung Le were allegedly part of a group of six men and women working with an outlaw motorcycle gang and a Mexican drug cartel to bring 1.7 tonnes of methylamphetamine Down Under.

1.7 tonnes of methylamphetamine was seized in the US bound for Australia. Source: Supplied

Authorities say 17 million meth deals were thwarted by the record seizure - the nation’s largest ice bust.

Le was arrested in western Sydney on Wednesday over his alleged connection to the record shipment, as well as $9.5 million of cocaine and $2.6 million of heroin found concealed in 850 car audio parts in California on January 9.

As AFP officers arrived to arrest the 31-year-old at his home in Mount Pritchard they also allegedly discovered a clandestine drug lab.

Six people were arrested in Victoria and NSW over the seizure. Picture: Supplied

Fire and Rescue crews had to be called in while raids were carried out in Hinchinbrook where two kilograms of cocaine was allegedly found.

And police searched the Bonnyrigg Heights home of 25-year-old Vu, who was also taken into custody.

Police yesterday arrested six people in Victoria and NSW allegedly involved in the shipment. Source: Supplied

Neither co-accused were required to appear when their matters were briefly heard in Central Local Court on Friday.

They’re facing three counts each of commercial drug importation and the pair will be extradited to Victoria ahead of their next appearance in Melbourne Magistrates Court on February 11.

The AFP warned Australia was under siege, as notorious Mexican cartels attempt to flood the county with drugs, mainly ice.

“We have averted a tsunami of drugs coming to Australia,” AFP Assistant Commissioner Bruce Hill said.

The massive haul has led to six arrests in Victoria and NSW. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“Mexican cartels are now actively targeting Australia. They are dangerous.”

Mr Hill said Australians pay more for drugs than any other country, making it a “natural magnet” for major drug rings.

Authorities made the drug cartel link after pulling over a man’s car in regional Victoria and finding 25kg of ice inside.

The intercept sparked a major operation which now spans the US and Canada.

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Later authorities seized two tonnes of drug precursors from a home in Victoria.

Victorian bikies have been linked to the cartel, with Mr Hill labeling those arrested in Australia as “facilitators”.

Police raided ten properties on Thursday and Friday across six Melbourne suburbs, resulting in the arrests of a man, 31, and woman, 29, of Vietnamese origin.

Police allegedly found $500,000 in cash and 6.5kg of meth.

A 52-year-old American man and 46-year-old American based in Woodstock, north of Melbourne, were also arrested.

AFP officers at a home on South Liverpool Rd in Hinchinbrook on Wednesday. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Toys and prams visible at the drug house

Five properties in Canada’s British Columbia have also been raided in connection to the drug ring, where a significant quantity of suspected proceeds of crime have been seized.

“We have diverted a disaster in this country,” Mr Hill said.

“The cartel is among one of the most powerful and violent drug trafficking syndicates in the world.”

Images of a makeshift drug laboratory found in the Hinchinbrook property. Picture: AFP

Mr Hill said 1.4 and 1.2 tonnes of drugs linked to the cartel were seized in 2018 and 2017, respectively, which he called “extremely alarming”.

He said AFP officials based in Mexico and the US are working to monitor the ongoing threat to Australia.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials worked together with Australian authorities to detect the drugs, located in California.

The makeshift drug laboratory found in the Hinchinbrook property. Picture: AFP

An AFP detection dog was also involved in the operation at Hinchinbrook. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The drug lab was allegedly discovered when investigators arrived to arrest the man over the shipment. Picture: Jonathan Ng