Australian Federal Police received an anonymous tip-off to Crime Stoppers last month, as well as intelligence from the US Homeland Security Investigations about large drug shipments being sent to a Sydney-based furniture store.
On July 22, Australian Border Force detectives detected 896kg of meth hidden inside two separate computer numerical control (CNC) machines at Port Botany.
ABF Acting Commander Asha Patwardhan said the meth had been detected by dogs even through layers of concrete and metal, which officers then drilled through to find the powder.
The drugs were seized and the emptied machines were delivered to their intended destination in Warwick Farm in Sydney’s south-west this Wednesday, July 31.
Both men were subsequently arrested, and the AFP searched the Warwick Farm property, a home in Minto and a vehicle.
AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Fogarty said 896kg of methamphetamine could have been sold as 8.9 million individual street deals and had an estimated street value of $828 million.
Fogarty said the “huge” shipment would likely have been distributed across the eastern seaboard.
Investigations are ongoing and further arrests are anticipated.