National Anti-Gangs Squad find 208kg of ice hidden in olive oil in Sydney

Australia’s bikie busting cops are coming for more drug crooks after they seized 208 kilos of ice headed for dial-a-dealers in Sydney. See the photos.

Exclusive: Bikie busting cops have seized $26 million worth of ice mixed into bottles of olive oil that would have flooded Australia’s streets with two million individual deals.

Images show the crystal meth settling at the bottom of the bottles of extra virgin olive oil, with the National Anti-Gangs Squad now warning they were “coming for” the drug crooks.

The shipment, containing 208kg of ice was found on a truck, which was intercepted in Fairfield in western Sydney.

No-one has been charged over the haul.

It comes after a new podcast, Bikies Inc, this week revealed outlaw motorcycle gangs were making $3 billion each year through ice and cocaine sales in Australia.

Ice infused olive oil seized in western Sydney. Picture: Australian Federal Police

Police from Brisbane and Sydney were involved in the seizure in Fairfield, which happened on July 30.

Detective Superintendent Jason McArthur, of the Australian Federal Police-led National Anti-Gangs Squad, said it was suspected the drugs were part of an international operation.

“Australian-based organised crime groups have an international reach and will collaborate

with known offenders residing offshore,” he said.

“The AFP, working with key partners in the National Anti-Gangs Squad, has successfully

prevented this significant quantity of methamphetamine (ice) from hitting Australian streets, and stopped millions of dollars of drug profit flowing back into the syndicate to fund future

criminal ventures.”

LISTEN TO THE BIKIES INC PODCAST BELOW

Ice settling at the bottom of a bottle of seized olive oil. Picture: Australian Federal Police

The olive oil ice was boxed up in a professional manner. Picture: Australian Federal Police

Australians spend more than $10 billion each year on ice, according to the Australian Institute of Criminology’s latest report on the cost of organised crime.

The rate of hospitalisations related to ice has quadrupled in the past 20 years, according to the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.

Detective Superintendent McArthur said ice created widespread problems, not just to the users.

“Illicit drugs like methamphetamine in the community create a domino effect of damage to

Australians, including domestic violence, increased strain on the health system and community violence, as gangs fight for turf to sell their dangerous drugs,” he said.

“The investigation into the syndicate responsible for importing this shipment into Australia is

ongoing and they should be on notice that we are ready and we are coming for them.”

The olive oil ice interception follows major seizures in recent months, with 700kg of cocaine found on the container ship Maersk Inverness in Sydney’s Botany Bay in August.

Police found 28 denim bags, each containing 25kg of cocaine in brick form, some of which were labelled “Netflix”.

And in a separate matter, an alleged Sydney drug importer has been stripped of $4.4 million worth of assets, including houses in New South Wales and Queensland, a Mercedes and cash in six bank accounts.

That confiscation was made based on information from Operation Ironside, a secret sting where police were monitoring 28 million messages on an app criminals believed was encrypted.

Anyone with drug or alcohol issues can call 1800 250 015 to seek help.

Originally published as National Anti-Gangs Squad find 208kg of ice hidden in olive oil in Sydney