Australian Authorities Seize $900M worth of Liquid Meth

Australian authorities have seized about $900 million worth of liquid methylamphetamine. Law enforcement officials added Monday that the drug haul also included 4.4 pounds of crystallized meth.

The Australian Federal Police's Joint Organized Crime Group (AFP JOCG) stated that the drugs, which were seized in different busts and totaled 720 liters (about 190 gallons), have "an estimated potential street value of more than a billion [Australian] dollars."

The Australian Federal Police Commander Chris Sheehan stated that the drugs could have been used to make roughly 1,100 pounds of high-grade crystal meth.

The authorities were able to find the drugs, which were hidden inside of silicon bra inserts and art products, with the help of the AFP and China's National Narcotics Control Commission via Operation OVCHARKA

The JOCG started the operation on November 8, 2015 with the purpose of investigating "potential drug importation and supply from Asia, destined for the Australian market." The operation first found around 530 liters (140 gallons) of liquid methylamphetamine during searches of four storage facilities that took place from Dec. 23 to Dec. 30.

The operation then uncovered 190 liters of liquid methylamphetamine (50 gallons) after examining a consignment at the NSW Container Examination Facility. The packages had arrived from Hong Kong.

"This largest seizure of liquid methylamphetamine to date is the result of organized criminals targeting the lucrative Australian ice market from offshore," Justice Minister Michael Keenan said. "The resolution of Operation Ovcharka has stopped a billion dollars-worth of ice from reaching our streets. Police working without our JOCG partner agencies continue to achieve significant ice seizures."

Four people with Hong Kong passports have been charged.