LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Australian Police have arrested four men after 662 kilograms of methamphetamine was found hidden inside a shipment of toilet paper rolls.
According to the Australian Border Force Police earlier today, the shipment arrived in Melbourne via sea cargo from Malaysia on 4 October.
The statement further disclosed that officers identified “anomalies” during an x-ray at the border.
Officers reportedly found 622 green and gold tea packages, each weighing 1 kilogram, further concealed within a pallet of toilet paper.
The seized drugs have a street value estimated at almost 560 million Australian dollars ($359 million), Police noted.
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“Two 33-year-old Chinese nationals, a Malaysian national; 34, and a Hong Kong national, 32, were arrested overnight on Wednesday,” the Police further disclosed.
“They were arrested as they separately attempted to board flights to leave Australia.
“The men have all been charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment,” the statement added.
Victoria Police Detective Acting Superintendent, Dan Ryan said Police remained focused on stopping illicit drugs from ending up in the community.
“The use of methamphetamine per capita in Australia is matched by no other nation in the world, and the devastating and tragic damage caused by its use ripples throughout the community,” Mr Ryan said.
Mr Ryan added that the harm the drug inflicted on the community could have significant and life-changing impacts on a range of innocent parties.