Australian police cracks down air mail drug importation

Australian law enforcement agencies have completed a blitz on drug importation via the international mail system, arresting 20 people and seizing 18.1 kg of illicit drugs, the Australian Federal Police said in a statement on Tuesday.Some 21 varieties of drugs worth 8.2 million Australian dollars (8.52 million U.S dollars) were found concealed in cushions, a handbag, prints, a jade dragon, cosmetic brushes, birthday cards and other letters and parcels in the operation between federal and state police along with Customs officers in recent weeks.Officers executed 38 search warrants across Australia with more than 127,000 dollars in cash seized, the agencies said.Among those arrested are a Victorian man facing charges for allegedly importing 1.36 kg of ice.Customs and Border Protection Regional Director, Graham Krisohos, said that Customs and Border Protection and its partner agencies will continue to target drug importation via the mail system."While most of these seizures are small, high-frequency low volume importations such as ones through our mail system pose a considerable cumulative threat," Mr. Krisohos said.