SYDNEY, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Australia announced a huge drug bust on Wednesday, with over one ton of the amphetamine precursor ephedrine seized, and 12 people arrested.
New South Wales (NSW) Police said they raided 26 properties early Wednesday after they discovered a shipping container at Port Botany filled with over one ton of ephedrine over the weekend, with a street value of over 500 million Australian dollars (380.16 U.S. million dollars).
The Commissioner of the NSW Police Force, Mick Fuller, spoke to local media and said this was one of the biggest operations to have successfully taken place this year.
"Over a million dollars in cash and firearms (were) seized, it's certainly the biggest operation we've had for this year in terms of really cutting off the head of the snake of organized crime," Fuller said.
Authorities are expected to give further details at a press conference, scheduled for later on Wednesday.