Australia seizes drugs worth half a billion Australian dollars.

Australian police announced on July 31st that they had seized a record amount of drugs worth more than half a billion Australian dollars and dismantled a drug trafficking ring based in Hong Kong.

The arrests followed a year-long investigation - Photo: BBC

Four Hong Kong nationals and three Australians have been arrested and are expected to appear in court in Sydney on charges of possession and smuggling drugs into Australia.

According to the BBC, the seized drugs totaled over half a ton, including 306 kg of methamphetamine (also known as crystal meth) and 252 kg of heroin.

According to police sources, this is the largest methamphetamine seizure in Australia to date and the third largest heroin seizure.

In a statement, the Australian Federal Police said the total value of the seized drugs was A$500 million (US$526 million).

The statement said they had been investigating for a year before finally dismantling this drug trafficking ring.

"Countless lives would be affected if this amount of drugs were distributed in Australia," said Andrew Colvin, deputy Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police. He also stated that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible.

According to Tuoi Tre - DT