Record Oz drug haul from terracotta pots

Sydney: Australian police on Tuesday seized a record half a tonne of the drug ice and heroin worth up to A$500 million ($525 million) hidden in a shipment of terracotta pots from Thailand. Seven people, including four from Hong Kong, were arrested after a year-long investigation following a tip-off from US authorities, police said. [caption id=“attachment_400272” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Australian Federal Police display ceramic vases used to conceal US$525 million worth of crystal methamphetamine and heroin. AFP[/caption] The 306 kg of methamphetamine, also known as ice, was Australia’s biggest seizure of the drug, while the 252 kg of heroin was the nation’s third largest-haul of heroin. “At the end of the day, there’s a lot of ‘Mr Mediums’ and ‘Mr Littles’ that work with ‘Mr Big’,” Deputy Commissioner Andrew Colvin told reporters. “I think we’ve got a good combination of the people responsible for this importation.” The drugs were found hidden in a shipment of 3,200 terracotta pots at Sydney’s Port Botany. Those arrested were charged with conspiracy to import illicit drugs and holding a commercial quantity of illicit drugs. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in jail. “We’re talking about a significant quantity of two separate types of substances which generally have different source countries,” Colvin said, adding the investigation was continuing and further arrests were possible. Reuters