SYDNEY - AUSTRALIAN police have arrested six people, including two Chinese citizens, and smashed a drug ring that was importing chemicals to make methamphetamine from China, they said on Thursday.
The six men were charged after police and customs allegedly found 200 kilograms of pseudoephedrine and 1.8 tonnes of other chemicals used to make methamphetamine or 'ice', in a container that shipped from China.
The chemicals could have produced ice worth more than A$15 million Australian dollars (S$17 million) on the street, the Australian Federal Police said.
'This operation should serve as a serious warning that attempts to import prohibited substance will be stopped, and offenders will be charged and face serious consequences,' said Ramzi Jabbour of the federal police.
The drug-related chemicals were found in a container in a Sydney port this week after a seven-month investigation.
Five men, including two Chinese nationals aged 52 and 29 were arrested in Sydney and Canberra and charged with offences including importing a commercial quantity of 'precursors' - substances that can be used to make drugs.
The five were due to face court later Thursday. A sixth man was charged with perverting the course of justice and was granted bail to appear in court next month.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy to import a border controlled precursor is 25 years imprisonment and/or a A$550,000 fine.
Police Commander David Stewart, said the chemicals could have caused an explosion on their way to Sydney.
'They have a very high combustion rate, they're highly flammable, some of the chemicals are carcinogens and can cause severe injuries to persons when they're handling these materials,' he told state radio. -- AFP
