Three men have been charged over an alleged attempt to smuggle 140 kilograms of methamphetamine from Canada into Australia concealed inside an industrial dough mixing machine.
The investigation began when Canadian border services noticed a suspicious air cargo shipment in Toronto containing $88 million worth of the drug.
Victorian organised crime investigators began looking into the suspected syndicate responsible for the Melbourne-bound shipment.
The shipment arrived in Melbourne in early October where it was moved to a storage facility in Tullamarine.
"Police monitored the consignment as it was moved to multiple locations in Melbourne in what police will allege was a sophisticated attempt by the people responsible to identify any law enforcement interest," Victorian Police said in a statement.
On Wednesday police arrested three men and searched seven properties, seizing $1.5 million in cash, drugs, three guns, a motorbike and a clandestine laboratory containing drug manufacturing equipment.
A 37-year-old Sunbury man was charged with attempting to import and possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs and committing an indictable offence whilst on bail.
A 29-year-old Keilor East man and a 33-year-old Bonnie Brook man were charged with attempting to import and possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs.
The men have been remanded in custody to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on March 23 where further charges are expected to be laid.
Victoria Police Crime Command Acting Assistant Commissioner Mick Frewen said there was local demand for a range of drugs "even during the pandemic".
"Victoria Police will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who bring that harm to our state are held to account, and that these criminal syndicates are strongly and deliberately targeted," Mr Frewen said.
