Police busts Indo-Australian drug syndicate

Sydney, Apr 8 (UNI) Australian Federal Police has seized a massive haul of phenylacetic acid which was shipped from India.

Two Melbourne men have been reported to be in police custody for importing a chemical which is used in manufacturing illicit drugs.

This amount of precursors could potentially have made nearly 90 kg of speed with an approximate street value of more than 10 million dollars,'' AFP Assistant Commissioner Tim Morris has said in a statement.

The seizure of phenylacetic acid, is stated to be the largest in the Australian history.

The bust is second in such police raids in the last few weeks involving Australian authorities and Indian shipments.

Earlier, a joint operation by drug authorities in India, Hong Kong, Australia and Indonesia had resulted in seizure of about 336 kg of norephedrine which is used to make another dreaded drug 'ice'.

The chemical pouches were reportedly discovered concealed in shrimp feed bags in a shipment from the South Asian country to Indonesia.

The illicit consignment was intercepted by Indonesian customs and immigration officials as they checked few containers last month after they were unloaded at Jakarta's main port two months earlier.

But the latest Melbourne bust is attracting media attention because of its sheer size of the precursor chemical used in the manufacture of amphetamines and also for the fact that it originated in India.

The Australian authorities have sealed a warehouse in a northern Melbourne suburb Thomastown where delivery of the chemical shipment was made.

Houses in two other localities Eltham North and Coburg were also raided leading to the arrest of 37 and 35-year-old men respectively.

The police authorities are also believed to have seized more than 21,000 dollar in cash during the raids which is claimed to have dismantled a 'well-organised syndicate'.

UNI