Three charged following largest seizure of ketamine in Australia

Police seized 174 kilograms of ketamine, with an estimated wholesale value of $6.9 million, in a sting involving the Spanish Guardia Civil.

Three Victorian men were arrested on July 11 in Lara, a town near Geelong, after 80 kilograms of ketamine were allegedly found inside tubs of liquid cement sent from Spain to Australia.

Two Melbourne-based men, aged 37 and 33 years, are accused of coordinating and facilitating the drug importation.

A third man, aged 32 years, is accused of attempting to possess commercial quantities of an illegal drug.

Detective Superintendent Anthony Hall said the arrest of this alleged Victorian-based syndicate should serve as a warning to transnational organised crime groups.

The investigation was aunched in May after a "suspicious consignment" was flagged by Spanish police.

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The consignment of 360 buckets of liquid cement arrived into Melbourne on June 26, AFP said.

Crime scene and forensic teams allegedly found ketamine hidden inside plastic tubes in 40 of the buckets.

The drugs were allegedly moved to a large rural estate in Lara where the ketamine was unpacked from the plastic tubes.

Police searched the property and allegedly found another 80 kilograms of ketamine that had been buried.

Two high powered gel blasters, 25 kilograms of an MDMA-like substance, 14 kilograms of ketamine and an estimated $210,000 in cash was also found.

Detective Superintendent Hall said the operation "highlights the strength in our agency's international law enforcement partnerships".

The men are expected to face the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on July 12.

Investigations remain ongoing and further arrests are possible, AFP said.

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