Four charged in Melbourne bust equal to nearly $10m worth of ice deals

Four men, allegedly part of an organised crime syndicate, have been charged after 1.3 tonnes of ephedrine worth almost $700 million was seized in Melbourne, disguised as ceramic tile adhesive.

Federal authorities have seized 1.3 tonnes of ephedrine worth nearly $700 million. Picture: Tamsin Rose

A tip off from Chinese authorities has stopped nearly one tonne of ice from hitting Melbourne’s streets, as four men face drug precursor importation charges.

They are accused of trying to import 1.3 tonnes of ephedrine in boxes labelled as ceramic tile adhesive, intercepted in a joint Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force investigation earlier this month.

It’s estimated the 1.3 tonne haul had the potential to make 922kg of methamphetamine, worth just over $690 million or just over nine million street deals.

It came after a tip off from a Chinese narcotics task force, and led to the arrests of a 53-year-old from Wheelers Hill, 55-year-old from Box Hill and two 26-year-old Chinese nationals in Melbourne yesterday.

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The men were allegedly members of the organised crime syndicate planning to receive the shipment.

Federal authorities have seized 1.3 tonnes of ephedrine worth nearly $700 million. Picture: Tamsin Rose

They are expected to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court this afternoon and face up to 25 years in jail.

It is illegal to import ephedrine without a license and Australian authorities say the shipment of 65 boxes containing 260 bags of a white powder equalled nearly ten million street deals of ice.

The drugs were swapped out with another substance and the shipment completed its journey to suburban Melbourne.

A Wheelers Hill man was arrested at Melbourne Airport yesterday as he attempted to board a flight to China, and the Box Hill man near a local shopping centre.

It’s alleged the two were facilitators for the crime syndicate behind the shipment.

They have been charged with importing commercial quantities of border controlled precursors.

Two Chinese nationals were arrested at a Box Hill North residence where the consignment was delivered, and each charged with attempting to import commercial quantities of border controlled precursors.

Three houses connected with the men were raided, while police executed more search warrants in the suburbs of Balwyn, Doncaster East and Dandenong South this morning.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Bruce Hill said the battle against ice was not over but the seizure was a huge win for Australia.

“Australian law enforcement continues to weather this storm of ice from offshore,” he said.

“In recent times there is an indication now organised crime is moving away from bringing the finished product ice into Australia and now reverting over to producing ice in backyard, clandestine laboratories.”

He urged anyone who noticed anything usual in homes around them, including chemical deliveries or unusual smells, to report it to police.

The haul comes just weeks after another AFP operation stopped the importation of 1.7 tonnes of ice from Mexico.