NSW: Four charged with importing 660kg of drug chemical =2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2008
NSW: Four charged with importing 660kg of drug chemical =2

"On the very day last week that we were announcing (in Melbourne) the largest seizure
of ecstasy, my officers in Sydney were unpacking a sea container," Customs chief executive
Michael Carmody told reporters in Sydney.

"That container had been targeted as the result of an operation being undertaken by
the NSW Crime Commission and NSW Police.

"The container was alleged to contain various foodstuffs and among the instant noodles,
instant rice and vermicelli was a number of cartons of what was alleged to be fruit juice.

"When those 45 cartons were opened ... each of them containing 15 kilograms, a total
of 662 kilograms of pseudoephedrine."

The discovery follows the world's largest ecstasy seizure, announced last week, of
4.4 tonnes of ecstasy found packed in tomato tins shipped to Melbourne from Italy last
year.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty today went into more detail about
last week's announcement of the record ecstasy haul.

He said a 23rd person allegedly linked to the operation was arrested yesterday and
faced a number of charges including money laundering.

Furthermore, he said drug seizures in recent times had prevented 14.6 tonnes of illegal
drugs, with a street value of $3 billion, hitting Australian streets.

In relation to the latest operation, he said raids would continue today.

"Twenty search warrants (have been) conducted in the western suburbs of Sydney in the
past 24 hours," Mr Keelty said.

"Those search warrants are continuing this morning."

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KEYWORD: PSEUDO 2 SYDNEY

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