Cade Lucas
A Hoppers Crossing man is one of three men charged following the largest seizure of ketamine in Australian history on Tuesday night.
The 32-year-old from Hoppers Crossing was charged with attempt to possess commercial quantities of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, following a raid by AFP and Victorian police on a property in Lara late on the evening of July 11.
A 37-year-old Altona man and a 33-year-old Sunshine North man were also arrested at the Lara property and are accused of facilitating the import of 80kg of ketamine hidden in tubs of cement sent from Spain to Australia.
A search of the Lara property uncovered another 80kg of suspected ketamine buried in the ground, while subsequent raids on properties in Altona, Yarraville and Williamstown found a further 14 kilograms of ketamine, 25 kg of suspected MDMA, high-powered gel blasters and an estimated $210,000 in cash.
In total, 174kg of ketamine was seized with an estimated wholesale value of $6.9 million.
The raids were conducted as part of Operation Woodgate which began in May after the AFP were tipped off by Spanish authorities about suspicious cargo sent to Australia.
AFP officers conducted a controlled operation which involved the 80kg of ketamine being delivered to a property in Merrimu near Bacchus Marsh.
It’s alleged the Sunshine North man then transported it to Lara where the other two syndicate members were waiting and all three were arrested.
The men face the possibility of life imprisonment if convicted.
AFP Detective Superintendent Transnational Serious and Organised Crime Anthony Hall, said seizing such a large amount of drugs would prevent community harm and send a message to international drug syndicates.
The three men were expected to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday July 12.
