Thais suspected over record drug haul in Sydney

 

An Australian Federal Police (AFP) police officer holds a bottle of green tea at a press conference after a seizure of methamphetamine precursor chemicals in Sydney on October 6.//AFP

 

Thai authorities are investigating the possible involvement of Thais in the smuggling of four tonnes of ephedrine – a drug precursor chemical – worth about Bt87 billion from Thailand to Australia, said Sirinya Sitthichai, chief of the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) on Tuesday.

 

The four tonnes of ephedrine could make about three tonnes of crystal methamphetamine, known as “ice”, he said.

 

Sea cargo including the haul was confiscated in Sydney earlier this month as part of a joint investigation by Australia and Thailand under the code name Task Force Storm, which began with information from Thai authorities about suspected large-scale imports of drugs into Sydney.

 

The task force was formed in May last year to combat crime syndicates and drug trafficking in Southeast Asia.

 

Sirinya said that Thais were suspected to be involved because the ship started its journey in Thailand.

 

The ephedrine was found hidden in green tea bottles.

 

The haul was the largest seizure of drug precursor chemicals at the Australian border. The latest haul was 1.4 tonnes four months ago.

 

Sirinya said the source of the ephedrine was a neighbouring country of Thailand, and the drugs were smuggled into Thailand.

 

The Australian Broadcasting Company reported recently that officers examined consignments at the Sydney Container Examination Facility and detected a shipment with more than 1,000 cartons filled with bottles of iced tea.

 

Approximately one third of the cartons returned a positive reading for liquid ephedrine, which is used to manufacture methamphetamine.

 

Two people, a Chinese-Australian dual national and an Australian man, were arrested during the raid. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30328968

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-10

This is the reason why we can't buy small packets of decongestant tablets (Sudafed) for treating a cold.

I like the photo.

 

Only 1 cop's hands , not like in Thai press photos where the usual bunch of cops are  fighting to get into the photo.

Edited October 10, 20178 yr by petedk

That neighboring country is China. 

Edited October 10, 20178 yr by over it
b/cause

The "Australian man" was briefly shown on Oz TV after he was arrested. He appeared to have African origins.

China -> Myanmar -> Thailand -> Australia. Some very big payoffs along the way.

good job done by all parties 

8 hours ago, over it said:

That neighboring country is China. 

Down the street, hardly a neighbour!!