Australia's largest-ever ecstasy seizure

Australia's largest-ever ecstasy seizure in Sydney was an excellent result from a combined operation between Commonwealth and state law enforcement and border protection agencies based on intelligence from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison, said today.

Four people have been charged with conspiracy to import a quantity of narcotic goods after arrests at Brisbane and Sydney Airports yesterday over a 340kg seizure of MDMA (ecstasy) powder, located on 18 June in a shipping container in Sydney and with a potential street value of $68 million.

"This is believed to be the largest ever seizure of this drug in Australia, with enough powder to manufacture up to 1.36 million tablets of ecstasy," Senator Ellison said.

"The combined work of the AFP, Customs and the Joint Asian Group (including members of the AFP, the Australian Crime Commission (ACC), NSW Police and the NSW Crime Commission) has ensured a massive quantity of a dangerous narcotic has been stopped from reaching Australian streets," he said.

AFP intelligence resulted in the searching of a shipping container in Sydney which had originated in The Netherlands. The container was searched and 340kgs of MDMA powder was located between packaged Chinese wonton pastry sheets.

Yesterday a man and woman, aged 54 and 43 years old respectively, were arrested in Brisbane while attempting to board a flight to Hong Kong. Last night, two men aged 42 and 40, were arrested at Sydney Airport.

The man arrested in Brisbane has had bail refused and the woman has granted conditional bail and will re-appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on 13 August 2004. The two men arrested in Sydney have had bail refused and will re-appear in the Sydney Central Local Court on 25 August 2004.

"Our agencies believe that a well-organised criminal syndicate has been disrupted as a result of this seizure and these arrests. This shows what can be achieved when agencies work together," Senator Ellison said.

"The Australian Government will continue to devote the necessary resources to agencies such as the AFP, Customs and the ACC so that this good work can be maintained to protect Australia and its citizens."