This archive report was first published on 14 August 2019.
On August 14, 2019, Australian police made a significant breakthrough in the fight against organized crime, arresting six individuals in a massive drug bust.
Among those arrested were four British men, who were detained in Australia and New Zealand in one of the region's largest-ever drug seizures.
The operation, which was connected to a UK-based organized crime syndicate, resulted in the seizure of highly pure methamphetamine and MDMA powder worth an estimated A$90m (£50m; $61m).
The drugs, which could have made up to 12 million ecstasy capsules, were seized in the state of Queensland, Australia.
Queensland Police described the bust as the third-largest MDMA seizure in Australian history and the highest purity ever seized in the state.
Police arrested two British men, aged 40 and 51, an Australian man, 26, and an Australian woman, 51, in Australia.
Another two British men, aged 49 and 60, were arrested in Auckland, New Zealand last week after police there seized 200kg of methamphetamine.
Raids were also carried out in the Australian state of New South Wales.
According to Queensland Police, the seized powder was destined for production into pill and capsule form to be sold across Australia.
