$2 billion in liquid meth found in canola oil bottles

Canadian authorities tipped off Australian police over the alleged importation attempts in January 2023 flagging 180 bottles of canola oil allegedly containing the drug.

Detective Superintendent Jason McArthur said the alleged transnational drug trafficking syndicate posed a national security threat "considering the sheer size of the attempted importations".

To track down the alleged culprits, the drugs were swapped for an harmless substance by police and the shipments were delivered.

Police tracked the packages, over five shipments, as they were allegedly moved to spots around western Sydney.

The investigation ended in the arrest of six men including two alleged importers from Sydney, a 26-year-old and a 34-year-old.

They were charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.

"This investigation shows that the AFP and partners do not end investigations after the first arrests - we will try to identify anyone involved in these harmful drug trafficking ventures and put them before the courts," detective superintendent McArthur said.

Victoria Police detective superintendent David Cowan said the harm caused by Australia's methamphetamine market was "unrivalled" compared with other illicit drugs.

He said the drug "contributes to unacceptably high levels of harm in our community through drug driving, drug-fuelled assaults, drug-fuelled family violence and heightened risk-taking".

"There is no doubt that [the criminal syndicate] will take a massive monetary hit as a result of this outcome, which is crucial for us as we work to target these syndicates in any and every way possible," he said.

Both alleged importers were refused bail. The 26-year-old will appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on March 4, 2024 and the 34-year-old will appear before the same court on April 10, 2024.