Global record seizure of synthetic drugs worth almost €1 billion

The seizure follows last year’s seizure of more than half a tonne of crystal meth in Cork, which detectives believe had been shipped from Mexico for onward shipment to Australia.

In a statement, the international police agency Interpol said Australian organized crime gangs were building closer ties with Mexican cartels.

“An international operation coordinated by Interpol against drug trafficking in Southeast Asia led to record seizures of synthetic drugs worth approximately $1.05 billion (95 billion euros),” the statement said.

“Given that the value of the seized drugs comes from just 58 seizures, the operation highlighted the significant profits criminal networks make from the synthetic drug market and the threat transnational organised crime groups pose to all regions.”

According to the report, the operation took place between July 22 and August 7 last year and involved Australia, Cambodia, Korea, Myanmar, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.

“A seizure of almost 900kg of crystal meth in Sydney was traced to the United States,” the report said.

“This is consistent with intelligence suggesting that the source of Australian methamphetamine is shifting from Southeast Asia to North America, driven by closer links between Australian transnational organised crime groups and Mexican cartels, suggesting changes in global drug trafficking routes.”

In March last year, the EU Drug Agency reported that intelligence from the US Drug Enforcement Agency indicated that there was a strategy among Mexican cartels “to control that (crystal meth) market globally”.

This involved sending Mexican ‘cooks’ to work in industrial laboratories in the Netherlands and Belgium.

The Interpol statement also noted other drugs seized, including 1.5 tons of ketamine in Southeast Asia.

According to the company, this area was a major source of ketamine for the global market, and the rapid growth of the trade was reflected in the quantities seized.

Irish authorities report an increase in ketamine use and seizures.

The Interpol statement also noted a new trend: “Another emerging threat involves ‘Happy Water’, a synthetic drug popular in Southeast Asian nightlife that contains methamphetamine, ecstasy, ketamine, benzodiazepines and caffeine.

“Happy Water is marketed in commercial packaging, misleading consumers about its highly dangerous contents.”

Interpol Secretary General Juergen Stock said: “Drug trafficking remains the cornerstone of transnational organised crime. It also fuels increased violence on the streets, undermining businesses, communities and even countries.”