Australia finds 585kg of drugs worth over S$400 million in fridges from Singapore shipment

The Australian Authorities have found 585kg of the drug methylamphetamine, or Ice, in a shipment of refrigerators that were sent from Singapore. The drugs are estimated to be worth over 400 million Singapore dollars in street value.

In a joint press release, the  Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force (ABF) and New South Wales Police said that border official intercepted a shipment from Singapore that was declared to contain electric ovens.

Investigations showed that the shipment contained 11 commercial fridges instead. Seven of these fridges contained 561 packages of “white crystalline substances”, which were later identified to be ice. The press release said: “Forensic analysis determined the packages contained a total of 585kg of Ice, which has an estimated potential street value of A$438 million.”

ABF Superintendent Garry Low confirmed that the shipment came from Singapore, at a press conference on Monday. He added: “The actual container came from Singapore and the actual nature of where the actual drugs came from is ongoing in the investigation.”

In a Facebook post, ABF said: “These crims might’ve had a warped sense of humour, but the real joke was their failed attempt to conceal more than half a tonne of the drug ‘ice’ in a consignment of refrigerators.

“Officers at our Sydney Container Examination Facility x-rayed the consignment – which was actually declared as electronic ovens – and discovered 561 packages of the drug, which has an estimated potential street value of $438 million.

“The drugs have since been seized and a joint investigation established with our mates at Australian Federal Police and NSW Police Force.”

The Australian authorities confirmed in their press statement that the drugs “have since been seized and a joint investigation established by the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police Force’s Organised Crime Squad, and the Australian Border Force. 

“On Friday 5 April 2019, two search warrants were executed at a commercial premises at Wetherill Park and a home at Edensor Park. 

“During the searches, officers seized documents relevant to the investigation and electronic storage devices.”