Police find $1.7bn of meth heading to Australia from Canada

Police were first alerted to the shipment when Canadian authorities discovered litres of liquid meth in bottles of canola oil.

Six men have been charged in relation to an alleged $1.7bn importation of meth into Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Supplied by AFP

Police have found $1.7bn worth of meth, allegedly shipped by an international drug syndicate, before it hit Australian streets.

The breakthrough in a five-month investigation came after Canadian authorities alerted Australian Federal Police they had located 2900 litres of liquid methamphetamine in 180 bottles of canola oil destined for Australia in January.

Police say more than six tonnes of liquid crystal methamphetamine was due to arrive in Victoria and NSW before AFP officers thwarted the shipment.

Two Melbourne men are now looking at possible life in prison after they allegedly facilitated one of four importation attempts.

Police say more than six tonnes of liquid meth were due to arrive in Victoria and NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Supplied by AFP

Four men who allegedly tried to buy the drugs in Australia have also been charged.

Eight search warrants executed across Melbourne’s CBD and western suburbs on Wednesday led to their arrests.

A 38-year-old Melbourne man, who recently returned from overseas, allegedly acted as an onshore facilitator for the movement of one import.

He has been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border-controlled drugs.

Investigators discovered an alleged clandestine drug lab. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Supplied by AFP

Police say the meth was allegedly stored in 180 bottles of canola oil. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Supplied by AFP

Police will allege a 32-year-old Melbourne man used his position in a logistics business to transport the methamphetamine when it arrived in Australia.

He was charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border-controlled drugs and trafficking a drug of dependence.

Both men will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Police executed eight search warrants on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Supplied by AFP

Another three men – a 28-year-old man, a 19-year-old man and a 26-year-old US national – have been charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of the drugs.

They allegedly used a storage unit in the western Melbourne suburb of Sunshine to store the illicit drugs.

Police also allegedly uncovered a clandestine lab at the Sunshine North home of one of the three men, along with a quantity of other drugs.

The 28-year-old Sunshine North man is due to reappear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The two other men have been remanded in custody until October 18.

A 51-year-old Melbourne man will also face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after he was charged with possession and trafficking of a marketable quantity of border-controlled drugs.

Further arrests in Australia are expected.

Originally published as Police find $1.7bn of meth heading to Australia from Canada