Aussie cops seize $250m ecstasy

2005-04-15 13:38

Sydney - Australian police have seized more than a tonne of ecstasy tablets and arrested four men in what they said was one of the biggest hauls in the world.

A police spokesperson said the four men were arrested on Thursday and early on Friday in Melbourne after federal police and customs officials discovered five million tablets of ecstasy hidden in a shipment of ceramic tiles from Italy.

She said: "This seizure, which has an approximate street value of more than $250m, is Australias largest and one of the worlds biggest ever single detections of the street-ready drug."

The Australian federal police (AFP) said investigations were continuing into the international ring responsible for smuggling the ecstasy, which weighed more than a tonne.

Customs officers search shipping container

Federal Agent Mike Phelan said: "The AFP is now working with its counterparts in Italy and other parts of Europe to identify any overseas links with this latest seizure."

Phelan said the haul was the result of "a complex and intelligence-led investigation" which began in January and led police and customs officers to search a shipping container that arrived in Melbourne's port from Italy earlier this week.

A giant X-ray machine was used to locate the ecstasy tablets hidden in cavities among the ceramic tiles.

Police monitored the shipping container until it was delivered on Thursday to a suburban Melbourne factory, where two men were arrested.

They said agents searched a dozen homes and businesses across Melbourne and arrested two more men early on Friday.

All four suspects were due to appear in court later on Friday.

- AFP