3 arrested after 38 kg of cocaine seized from alleged Australian trafficking syndicate

SYDNEY, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Police in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria have arrested three men after seizing 38 kg of cocaine from an alleged trafficking syndicate in Melbourne.

Victoria Police said on Friday that investigators allege the syndicate had been operating out of addresses in Melbourne's west and northwest suburbs, as well as using two vehicles to travel interstate.

Both vehicles were intercepted and searched on Monday, with officers locating and seizing 32 kg of cocaine as well as cash and numerous mobile phones.

An additional 6 kg of cocaine and 16 kg of methamphetamine were seized when officers from the major drug squad and clandestine laboratory squad executed search warrants at four properties in west and northwest Melbourne on Monday and Tuesday.

One of the properties in the suburb of Braybrook, 10 km west of central Melbourne, was found to contain a sophisticated drug lab.

Three men, aged 31, 30 and 26, were arrested. The 30-year-old was charged with trafficking large commercial quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine and possessing equipment for manufacture, and the other two were each charged with trafficking large commercial quantities of cocaine.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

According to police, the seized volume of cocaine has an estimated street value of 12.3 million Australian dollars (8.2 million U.S. dollars), while the methamphetamine is worth 9.6 million Australian dollars (6.4 million dollars).

Three handguns, two 3D printed firearms, ammunition and cash were also seized. ■