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Australian Police Bust Drug Syndicate: 270kg Seized, 18 Arrested in Nationwide Raid

Australian police have made a massive breakthrough against organized crime with a nationwide drug bust. The operation resulted in 18 arrests and the seizure of nearly 270kg of illicit substances. Authorities discovered the syndicate was importing drugs through sea cargo concealed in shoe shipments. The drugs were then distributed across state lines using postal services and drug mules on airplanes.

Key Points: Australian Police Seize 270kg Drugs Arrest 18 in Syndicate Bust

  • Police seized 150kg of pseudoephedrine and 95kg of methamphetamine in raids
  • Syndicate imported drugs via sea cargo hidden in shoe shipments
  • Authorities confiscated 14 firearms and $1.5 million in cash during operation
  • Drugs were transported across state borders using postal services and air travel
2 min read

18 arrested after almost 270 kg of illicit drugs seized by Australian police

Major drug bust across Australia nets 270kg of illicit substances including methamphetamine and cocaine, with 18 arrests and $1.5 million cash seized.

"The seized drugs had a combined estimated value of 60 million Australian dollars - Australian Police Authorities"

Sydney, Nov 4

Australian police have arrested 18 people after seizing almost 270 kg of illicit drugs during an investigation into an organised crime syndicate operating across the country.

The police forces in the states of New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia (WA), as well as the Australian Federal Police (AFP), said in a statement on Tuesday that the arrests were made by a joint strike force that was established earlier in 2025 to investigate the large-scale supply of illicit drugs by an organised syndicate.

Strike force detectives executed 30 search warrants across NSW and WA between May and October, during which they located and seized 150 kg of pseudoephedrine, 95 kg of methamphetamine, 21 kg of ketamine, 2 kg of cocaine, 14 firearms, almost 2.4 million Australian dollars ($1.5 million) in cash and lab equipment.

Officers arrested 18 people, 11 of whom were in WA, and charged them with a range of offenses relating to the import and supply of illicit drugs and participating in a criminal group.

It will be alleged in court that the syndicate imported the drugs via sea by concealing them in consignments of shoes in plastic.

Police said the drugs were then exchanged across state borders by post and by drug mules on planes, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to authorities, the seized drugs had a combined estimated value of 60 million Australian dollars ($37.5 million).

Earlier on October 19, Police in the NSW had said in a statement that more than 5 kg of methylamphetamine and almost 11 kg of cocaine, with an estimated potential combined street value of over 6.3 million Australian dollars (about $4.09 million), had been seized in the state's southwest.

Officers, who were conducting patrols of the Hay area and had stopped a black car on the Sturt Highway.

After the 30-year-old male driver got a positive result in a roadside drug test, officers had searched the man and found cocaine and cash in his possession. Officers had conducted a search of the car and seized the drugs, as well as more than 130,000 Australian dollars in cash, and two mobile phones.

The driver was arrested and was charged with seven offences.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Concealing drugs in shoe shipments is so clever yet so dangerous. This shows how creative these criminal networks have become. We need stronger international cooperation to stop such smuggling routes that might affect India too.
A
Arjun K
$37.5 million worth of drugs seized! That's huge money. But I wonder if this will actually reduce drug supply or just increase prices temporarily. The demand needs to be addressed through better education and rehabilitation programs.
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Sarah B
As someone who has family in Australia, this news is reassuring. The joint efforts between state and federal police show good coordination. Hope they get maximum punishment - drugs destroy so many young lives.
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Vikram M
While I appreciate the police work, I'm concerned about the resources spent. Could this money be better used for prevention and treatment? Arresting users doesn't solve the root problem. Just my thoughts 🤔
M
Michael C
The scale of this operation is impressive - 30 search warrants across multiple states. This shows how widespread these networks are. Makes you wonder how much still gets through undetected.

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