Australian Police Seize $170 Million Drug Haul Linked to Organized Crime "Kill Team"

Detectives found bricks of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin stuffed inside bags. (AI-generated image)

Australia:

Australian police announced Wednesday they had confiscated drugs valued at $170 million along with firearms during a raid targeting a group likely connected to an attempted organized crime assassination near a Sydney daycare facility last week.

New South Wales police previously reported they had prevented a planned murder by a suspected "kill team" and detained three men involved in the plot.

On Wednesday, authorities revealed they had seized approximately 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of narcotics in a significant operation targeting a transnational criminal organization they believe is connected to the thwarted murder attempt.

Investigators discovered vacuum-sealed blocks of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin packed inside duffel bags and concealed at various Sydney safe houses.

They estimated the street value of the confiscated drugs at approximately Aus$260 million ($170 million).

Police indicated the raids were part of a larger operation aimed at dismantling a "transnational network believed to be run out of Southeast Asia".

Organised Crime Squad Commander Peter Faux told media outlets the syndicate was "highly likely" connected to last week's attempted killing.

"We believe highly likely there are some links between certain entities around that incident that occurred last week," he stated.

Faux also mentioned there were "potentially some links" to the April abduction and murder of a Sydney mother related to her husband's alleged connections to a Vietnamese-linked organized crime network.

Police images released Wednesday showed armed officers searching one of the hideouts.

Sealed drug packages were scattered across the floor, marked with an image of a cartoon bear made famous in the 2012 Mark Wahlberg comedy "Ted".

Another package displayed red Chinese characters reading "smooth sailing".

Authorities also seized three pistols and more than 300 rounds of ammunition.

Three men aged between 19 and 26 were arrested and charged with numerous drug supply offenses.

Affluent Australians are willing to pay some of the highest prices globally for drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine.

This profitable black market has increasingly attracted sophisticated criminal networks ranging from Southeast Asian Triads to South American cartels.