Australia seizes $100m ice in heaters, barbecues on Thai cargo ship

By 9news.com.au

CLOSE to $100 million worth of the drug ice has been found concealed in electric barbecue grills and water heaters on a Thai cargo ship docked in Sydney, it was reported today (May 17).

Police officers intercepted the Thai cargo vessel at Port Botany on May 4, where 62 large cardboard boxes were searched after the Australian Border Force noted inconsistencies in the consignment details.

Once opened, officers found 316 kilogrammes of a crystallised substance which returned a “presumptive positive result” for methylamphetamine (ice), with an estimated street value of $94.5 million (approximately 2.3 billion baht).

Australian Border Force officials have now brought in New South Wales Police Organised Crime Squad detectives and, Federal Police and the New South Wales Crime Commission to assist with the investigation.

Strike Force Kansa has been established and as joint investigations continue, police are urging anyone with information about the import to come forward.

CAPTION:

The 316 kilogrammes of ice shipped to Australia on a Thai cargo ship. Photo: Newonnews.com