Two people have been caught allegedly trying to smuggle 6kg of MDMA in their luggage as they boarded the Spirit of Tasmania, as part of a national anti-drugs operation.
The bust came amid a major crackdown on organised crime across Australia, with more than 1600 people arrested and $93 million worth of drugs seized.
All levels of state and territory police took part with more than 2900 charges laid during the week-long operation which ended on August 23.
Those arrested included a man and woman who were stopped by police as they were about to board the Spirit of Tasmania ferry when it left Victoria from the port of Geelong on August 21.
A search of a suitcase revealed about 6kg of MDMA.
A 44-year-old man from Newport in Melbourne's west has been charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of MDMA.
He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 26.
Operation Vitreus also involved the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre and New Zealand police.
The operation was focused on detecting and enforcing illicit drug and organised crime activity to reduce drug availability in the community.
There were 528 search warrants executed throughout Australia and New Zealand with almost 1400kg of illicit drugs and more than 2500 cannabis plants, with a street value of about $93 million seized along with 71 guns and $2.2m in cash.
The most recent Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission wastewater report found Australia had the second-highest methylamphetamine consumption per capita compared with 29 other countries.
Australia also ranked 20th out of 32 countries for the consumption of cocaine, 15th out of 33 countries for the consumption of MDMA and third out of 20 countries for the consumption of cannabis.
In December 2023, there was record high cocaine consumption in capital cities and regional areas and record high methylamphetamine consumption in the capital cities.
Cannabis and methylamphetamine are consumed more than any other illicit drugs in Australia.
Federal police Commander Paula Hudson said drugs were negatively impacting the lives of Australians in unprecedented ways.
"The harm caused by drug use can impact, directly and indirectly, on all Australian families and individuals," she said.
"The impacts range across the spectrum of health, social and economic harm.
"Every week, on average, 16 Australians die from heroin, amphetamine-type stimulants or cocaine overdose.”
Methamphetamine remains the most significant illicit drug threat to the Australian community and causes increased healthcare costs of $5 billion annually, loss of productivity and further criminal activity.
