SYDNEY, Australia, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Police in the Australian state of Queensland have seized a record 766 kg of the drug MDMA, with an estimated street value of over 60 million U.S. dollars, authorities revealed on Wednesday (today).
As well as being the third largest seizure of MDMA ever in Australia, and the largest in the state of Queensland, the drugs were also of the highest purity ever recorded in the state.
A joint international investigation to uncover those responsible also led to the seizure of 200 kg of methamphetamine, in the New Zealand city of Auckland, last week.
In Queensland state, two men from Britain, as well as, one local man, have been charged with drug possession and supply, while in New Zealand, police have arrested and charged two men from Britian.
According to authorities, the investigation involved personnel from Australian, New Zealand and British law enforcement agencies and is an example of officers working together to reduce harm to the community.
“According to our latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Programne data, it is estimated over 1.1 tonnes of MDMA is consumed nationally each year, 223 kg in Queensland alone,” Acting Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission State Manager, Queensland Operations, Katie Willis, said.– NNN-AGENCIES
“Removing 766 kg of MDMA before it reaches our streets will have an immeasurable impact on the illicit MDMA market.”
