The largest shipment of fentanyl in Australia’s history – more than five million doses – has been intercepted as police call the importation a ‘total act of bastardry’.

Federal Police and Border Force officers seized more than 11kg of pure powdered fentanyl – a fast-acting, highly addictive opioid – at the Port of Melbourne in December last year. 

The disturbing shipment, originating from Canada, was revealed on Monday alongside photos of the drug crammed into military-grade ammunition boxes. 

The drug is mostly used for medical purposes in Australia, but overseas the illicit drug is sometimes cut with heroin, often with fatal consequences, as seen in the case of legendary singer Prince and horrific scenes in rural American town. 

The largest shipment of fentanyl in Australia’s history – more than five million doses – has been intercepted by police at the border

Federal Police and Border Force officers seized more than 11kg of pure powdered fentanyl – a fast-acting, highly addictive opioid – at the Port of Melbourne in December last year

Australian Border Force commander James Watson said the discovery was an ‘extraordinary’ amount, reported The Age.

‘We were absolutely shocked by the size of the detection and the audacity of the attempted importation,’ Commander Watson said.

‘I’d describe it as a total act of bastardry, quite frankly. The impact of this on our community, had it reached the streets … it doesn’t bear thinking about.

‘Quite frankly, we’ve all been living through COVID over the last few years; it’s tough enough as it is, let alone to see this kind of impact reaching our streets that we live in.’

Fentanyl sold illegally in Australia often is usually in the form of patches and used for medical treatment.

‘I’d describe it as a total act of bastardry, quite frankly. The impact of this on our community, had it reached the streets … it doesn’t bear thinking about,’ Australian Border Force commander James Watson said.

The disturbing shipment, originating from Canada , was revealed on Monday alongside photos of the drug crammed into military-grade ammunition boxes 

Authorities in Australia had only ever detected fentanyl importations in small  amounts – all less than 30g – with this bust more than 350 times larger than the previous most. 

In December officers detected almost 60kg of powdered substances hidden inside military-style ammunition boxes which were concealed within a three tonne lathe.

A two-week operation ensued as they attempted to remove and analyse the powder. 

The operation involved multiple agencies as forensic officers were kitted out in bio hazard suits to remove the powder.

Approximately 27kg of the powder found contained the opioid fentanyl, with 11.2kg of pure fentanyl.

The AFP estimate this shipment would be able to provide almost 5.5 million potential lethal doses of 30mg.

Approximately 27kg of the powder found contained the opioid fentanyl, with 11.2kg of pure fentanyl. The AFP estimate this shipment would be able to provide almost 5.5 million potential lethal doses of 30mg

They say there is no precedent available to place a street value on such a large amount of the drug.

Officers also uncovered about 30kg of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of $27 million.

AFP acting Commander Anthony Hall said criminal syndicates across the world have been lacing illicit drugs such as heroin with the synthetic opioid, creating a potentially lethal cocktail of drugs.

‘People who use illicit drugs can never be certain what they are ingesting and this seizure highlights the potentially lethal game of Russian roulette they play. We don’t want to see Australia joining other countries in that deadly game,’ he said.

‘Drug extraction can always pose a risk but the lethality of fentanyl, even in small doses, required our forensic officers to wear bio-hazard suits and we had multiple ambulances on standby. 

‘Even in this highly controlled environment, there was a risk to our members’ safety.

Authorities in Australia had only ever detected fentanyl importations in small amounts – all less than 30g – with this bust more than 350 times larger than the previous most

‘Our concern is that if such a large amount of fentanyl was in the hands of Australian-based criminal networks driven by greed, it could have passed uncontrolled and hidden into the community with possibly deadly results.’

ABF Commander James Watson sung the praises of the officers who uncovered the dangerous shipment.

‘This was a massive amount of Fentanyl. The excellent work of our officers prevented these deadly drugs from reaching our streets, which has undoubtedly saved many, many lives,’ Commander Watson said.

‘Fentanyl is an extremely toxic substance to handle as well as being a lethal drug to use. There is a fentanyl epidemic in many parts of the world today, resulting in thousands of deaths of users every year. 

‘Our officers work tirelessly to prevent this harm from reaching our streets, as it is literally a life and death battle with these drugs.’

The drug is mostly used for medical purposes in Australia, but overseas the illicit drug is sometimes cut with heroin, often with fatal consequences, as seen in the case of legendary singer Prince and horrific scenes in rural American town