$140m shipment of MDMA intercepted before hitting Brisbane
9News Staff 2 hrs ago

An international shipment of MDMA, large enough to make seven million ecstasy tablets, has been intercepted before hitting the streets of Brisbane.

A 10-month investigation between Australian and Dutch authorities saw the drugs, which have an estimated street value of $140 million, intercepted near Rotterdam, Amsterdam.

Authorities found the drugs hidden in a shipping container of tinned pulped tomatoes.

Australian Federal Police, the Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce, Queensland Police, Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission all worked with Dutch police in the investigation, which has been described as one of the biggest MDMA seizures in Australian history.

AFP officers embedded overseas are believed to have played a vital role in the undercover operation, which saw the drugs intercepted before they were shipped to Australia.

Father and son Paulus Johannes Berkhof, 58, and Petronella Adrianna Waltherus Adriaan Berkhof, 37, are alleged to be key members of the syndicate and have been charged in the Netherlands.

They will not be extradited to Australia.

AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said all those involved would face prosecution.

"The AFP is committed to working closely with its law enforcement partners here in Australia, through partnerships such as the Queensland Joint Organised Crime Taskforce, and overseas to ensure offenders face considerable consequences for their actions," Mr Kershaw told News Corp.

"I wish to thank our Dutch counterparts for their expert involvement in this investigation and strong support of our efforts to keep these drugs off Australian shores."

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/aust...epted-before-hitting-brisbane/ar-BBX8TOd