SYDNEY, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Seven men and one woman have been arrested, after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) announced on Wednesday they raided a unit in Sydney, and discovered methamphetamine with a street value of 324 million dollars (246.29 million U.S. dollars).
The men, all Australian citizens aged between 20 and 31, were arrested at the unit in the Sydney suburb of Smithfield on Monday evening and faced court on Tuesday, while the female was arrested late Tuesday, and will face court later on Wednesday.
The arrests were made as part of a joint investigation between the AFP and the Australian Border Force, who tracked the shipment from the United States, with the drugs concealed in 396 bottles of what was marked as protein powder, with a total weight of 540 kilograms.
In subsequent raids as part of the investigation, police discovered an assortment of other drugs, weapons and cash.
AFP Commander Chris Sheehan said the arrest of the seven men and one woman was conducted rapidly, as part of the final phase of the investigation.
"We will continue to work with our law enforcement and border protection partners to throw everything we have at those who threaten the safety of our community," Sheehan said.
"On this occasion, we're proud to say we've stopped half a tonne of this life ruining drug from reaching Australian streets."
