$900 Million of Meth Smuggled in Bra Inserts, Art Supplies
Australian police seized $900 million worth of liquid methamphetamine smuggled inside gel bra inserts and art supplies, making for one of the largest drug busts in the country's history.
The investigation was launched in December after a shipping container raid revealed 86 boxes of bra inserts holding 190 liters of liquid meth, also known as "ice."
An additional 530 liters of liquid meth were found in art supplies, including paint-by-numbers kits for children, across 5 storage units in Sydney suburbs.
"This has resulted in 3.6 million individual hits of ice being taken off our streets," New South Wales justice Michael Keenan told reporters Monday, estimating the value of the drugs at $1.26 billion Australian dollars.
Three Hong Kong nationals - including a 33-year-old man, a 37-year-old man, and a 52-year-old woman - as well as a 59-year-old Chinese male national, were charged for their involvement in the importation and manufacturing of the drugs.
Australia has one of the world's highest rates of meth usage, as criminal gangs have found the country to be a profitable place to make and sell the drug.