A major methamphetamine seizure Sydney has exposed the scale of international trafficking into Australia. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed that officers seized 350 kilograms of methamphetamine, worth an estimated $323 million, from a shipping container in Port Botany, NSW. The bust shows how criminal syndicates exploit legitimate trade routes to move massive quantities of drugs.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) intercepted the container in April 2025 after it arrived from the Middle East. When officers inspected the cargo, they found 35 specially manufactured metal pipes filled with methamphetamine. The AFP then secured the drugs and arranged for the container to be delivered to Kemps Creek, NSW, where it has remained under surveillance. Investigators believe traffickers used the details of a legitimate company to disguise the importation.
AFP Detective Paul Watt explained that the methamphetamine could have been divided into about 3.5 million street-level deals, causing widespread damage to communities. “Criminal syndicates behind these failed importations don’t care about the harm they cause. They only care about profits,” Watt said. He urged the public to contact Crime Stoppers with any information that may help investigators identify those responsible.
ABF Inspector Noleen Shankar described the inspection as “complex and intense” due to the heavy concealment. She praised ABF officers for using advanced scanning and x-ray technology to expose the drugs hidden in the pipes.
Through intelligence-led targeting and close cooperation between the AFP, ABF, and partner agencies, authorities continue to dismantle sophisticated drug trafficking networks. This methamphetamine seizure Sydney highlights the critical role of community reporting and law enforcement vigilance in stopping drugs before they reach Australian streets.
21 August 2025
Source: AFP
