KEY POINTS:
SYDNEY - Police in six countries have arrested 40 people, including 14 in Australia, during co-ordinated raids which authorities say have smashed an important international drug ring.
Australian Federal Police said today international law enforcement officers had seized 600kg of cocaine, 111kg of ice, 83kg of ecstasy and 1200kg of materials used to produce ice and ecstasy.
The drug bust originated in Canada where the Vancouver Sun is reporting that the New Zealand police were involved in the international investigation.
However, when nzherald.co.nz contacted New Zealand police head quarters, spokesman Jon Neilson said no one knew of New Zealand involvement.
He said liaison officers in other countries could have been involved in the investigation and he was waiting for them to get back to him.
Other countries involved in the sting included Japan, Taiwan, India, China, United States and Australia.
The Australian end of the operation, launched in August after drugs were found concealed in suitcases from Canada, involved officers from Customs, the AFP, the NSW police, the Australian Crime Commission and the NSW Crime Commission.
The 14 Australian arrests were made in Sydney and Melbourne where 28.6kg of ice and 23kg of ecstasy tablets were seized since August, the AFP said.
The Australian Joint Asian Crime Group (JACG) made the first arrests in Sydney after Australian Customs Service officers discovered 15kg of ice in the lining and frames of three large suitcases.
JACG involves officers from Customs, the Australian Federal Police, the NSW Police Force, the Australian Crime Commission and the NSW Crime Commission.
The 14 Australians have been charged with varying drug offences, including conspiracy to import and supply a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.
- AAP
