AFP seizes ice worth $130m in Melbourne - ABC Online

Updated July 30, 2014 13:55:29

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have seized 135 kilograms of methamphetamine with a street value of $130 million from a Melbourne apartment.

Police said they located four suitcases containing the drugs in an inner city Melbourne apartment on Tuesday night.

The drugs represent 1.3 million street deals, police said.

The AFP and Australian Crime Commission (ACC) executed search warrants in Melbourne yesterday and arrested four Taiwanese nationals, all aged in their twenties.

• Aprox $40 million in cash seized


• Over $800 million of illicit drugs seized


• $30 million in assets restrained


• Identified more than 179 targets previously unknown to law enforcement officials


• Disrupted 25 serious organised crime groups


• Shut down 18 clandestine drug labs, three of which were commercial scale


• Raised $12 million in tax assessments with 150 referrals to the ATO for further action on evasion and money laundering.

Source: Richard Grant, ACC

The seizure and arrests comes after intelligence from the Eligo National Task Force.

AFP Commander Bruce Giles said it was a significant seizure for the country and the state.

"Ice, we see as one of the most dangerous and insidious diseases in our communities and the fact that we have removed over 1.3 million street deals of methamphetamine has got to be good for the Victorian and Australian community," he said.

"I think in terms of an organised crime syndicate operating in Australia, clearly they will see yet again that agencies cooperate effectively together to join forces to combat the drug trade."

The four men, Chun Lan, 28, Ming Hsuan Ou and Li Ping Chen, both 23, and Shu Yi Lin, 20, appeared briefly in the Melbourne Magistrates Court just before 1:00pm (AEST).

They were all charged with possessing and trafficking a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The court heard the men, who were assisted by a translator, have Australian tourist visas and their arrest yesterday is their first time in custody.

They have been remanded in custody until their next court hearing. Magistrate Jelena Popovic told the men they could apply for bail at any time.

They will return to court on November 5 for a committal mention.

Topics: drug-offences, crime, law-crime-and-justice, melbourne-3000

First posted July 30, 2014 11:24:54