AUSTRALIAN police have seized half a billion U.S. dollars’ worth of crystal methamphetamine and heroin after smashing a Hong Kong-linked international drugs syndicate, they said yesterday.

    Police raided addresses in Sydney on Monday, arresting seven people after allegedly finding 306 kg of crystal methamphetamine — known as Ice — and 252 kg of heroin worth a total of AU$500 million (US$525 million).

    Four of those detained were from Hong Kong and the other three were Australian residents.

    It was the largest haul of Ice in Australian history and the third-biggest heroin bust, and was the culmination of a protracted operation following a tip-off from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

    “This was an 11-month investigation,” said deputy police commissioner Andrew Colvin. “This has prevented half a billion dollars of drugs reaching Australian streets.”

    The drugs were allegedly stashed in 100 terra-cotta pots shipped to Australia from an undisclosed country and tracked to a warehouse in inner-city Sydney, with hundreds of foil-wrapped, loaf-sized packages uncovered.

    Those arrested appeared in court yesterday charged with various drug importation and distribution offenses and were remanded in custody until Oct. 17. (SD-Agencies)