Drugs worth tens of millions of dollars have been seized and 11 people arrested in a seven-month Customs operation targeting suspected psychoactive substances.
Operation Static, which began in February and ended this month, involved intelligence gathering, information sharing, targeting and intercepting packages, as well as conducting investigations and activity against importers.
Customs Minister Maurice Williamson announced today that a total of 379 suspected psychoactive substances, totalling more than 500 kilograms were intercepted.
This included Class A, B and C drugs, controlled medicines and a range of synthetic cannabinoids and analogues.
There was a total of 80 kilograms of Class C analogues seized, including 18 kilograms of ecstasy mimic methylone. These drugs have a street value of $21 million, Mr Williamson said.
"The harm prevented from keeping these analogues away from communities has been calculated at $32 million," he said.
Drug harm is defined as the total social costs from harmful drug use. It includes crime, lost output, health service use and other diverted resources, such as Customs and Police time.
Eleven people have been arrested to date as a result of Operation Static.
"If people want to chance their arm on importing illegal drugs then they can expect to be caught. I hope this successful Customs operation sends a clear warning to any would-be importers," Mr Williamson said.
The Minister said drugs worth tens of millions of dollars have been kept off the streets as a result of 'the great work of Customs" on Operation Static.
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