Greater than 5,000,000 doses of the drug had been seized on February 3, when Australian Border Drive workers discovered 11 kilograms of pure powdered fentanyl and 30 kilograms of methamphetamine inside in an industrial picket lathe that arrived from Canada in December 2021.
The methamphetamine had an estimated road worth of $27,000,000.
The medicine had been hidden amongst virtually 60 kilograms of powdered substances discovered inside military-style ammunition bins hid inside a 3 tonne lathe.
It took police two weeks to soundly take away the medicine from the lathe and analyse it because of the lethal danger fentanyl poses.
AFP performing Commander Anthony Corridor stated officers needed to put on protecting bio hazard fits to guard in opposition to any pores and skin contact with the drug, which might trigger hurt, lack of consciousness and even dying, whereas Ambulance Victoria had been on standby.
"The lethality of fentanyl, even in small doses, required our forensic officers to put on bio-hazard fits and we had a number of ambulances on standby," he stated.
"Even on this extremely managed atmosphere, there was a danger to our members' security."
Fentanyl is a fast-acting opioid that's extremely addictive and could be deadly from a dose of simply 28 milligram - about the identical weight as two grains of salt.
The drug is primarily used for medical functions in Australia, however it's has been lower with heroin in abroad illicit drug markets, resulting in deadly penalties, based on the AFP.
Australian authorities have solely ever detected illicit fentanyl importations in quantities lower than 30 grams.
AFP performing Commander Anthony Corridor stated prison syndicates illicit medicine corresponding to heroin with fentanyl had been making a harmful cocktail of gear.
"Individuals who use illicit medicine can by no means be sure what they're ingesting and this seizure highlights the possibly deadly sport of Russian roulette they play," he stated.
ABF Commander Maritime and Enforcement South James Watson stated the "large quantity of fentanyl" being seized had "undoubtedly saved many, many lives".
The AFP, ABF and the Division of Dwelling Affairs are working collectively to trace down these accountable for importing the fentanyl.