Detectives from Taskforce Icarus have this week charged two people and seized over $15m worth of LSD and almost $100,000 in cash and cryptocurrency as part of a joint investigation with US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) into the alleged importation, exportation and manufacture of LSD tabs.
The LSD seizure is the largest ever in Victoria and believed to be one of the biggest in Australian history.
The investigation commenced in the USA in September 2024 after HSI identified what was established to be the importation from Australia of border-controlled drugs.
After determining the person of interest lived in Australia, HSI made an initial referral to Queensland Police Service who began investigating and determined those involved lived in Victoria.
Supported by the Australian Border Force, approximately 120 individual postal parcels – or over 35,000 tabs of LSD – have been intercepted by investigators addressed to various Australian and international destinations.
With assistance from the Australian Federal Police, Clandestine Laboratory Squad, Joint Organised Crime Taskforce and Mornington Divisional Response Unit, search warrants were executed Wednesday morning at residential addresses in Mount Martha and Wollert.
A 35-year-old man from Mount Martha was charged with export commercial quantity border-controlled drug, traffick large commercial quantity drug of dependence, possess precursor, possess equipment and material to manufacture drug of dependence and possess proceeds of crime.
He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 24 February.
A 44-year-old woman from Mount Martha was charged with traffick large commercial quantity drug of dependence, possess precursor, possess equipment and material to manufacture drug of dependence an possess proceeds of crime.
She will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
Approximately 750,000 LSD tabs, 60 grams of LSD crystal (which could make approximately 600,000 tabs), 113 grams of magic mushrooms, 1kg of precursor and approximately $45,000 cash and $50,000 in cryptocurrency were seized from the address.
The total amount of LSD seized equates to 1.5M individual hits, with a combined worth of $15M.
A small quantity of a drug of dependence was seized from the Wollert address and a 46-year-old Wollert man will be interviewed at a later date.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Taskforce Icarus is responsible for targeting and disrupting the importation and supply of illicit drugs – primarily via the mail system.
Exporting a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug could result in a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
“LSD, like all illicit drugs, causes psychological, financial and social harm to users, their loved ones, and the broader community,” said Detective Superintendent Dave Cowan, Organised Crime Division.
“The negative effects this many street deals of LSD would have had are significant and would have been traumatic and life altering for many.
“Victoria Police, alongside our law enforcement partners, has zero tolerance for those bringing harm to our community by importing and trafficking drugs of any type. We will continue to target these syndicates in any and every way possible.”
Anyone with information about illicit drug importation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au