A further two men have been arrested for their alleged roles in an attempt to import 45 kilograms worth of ketamine into Sydney.

The inquiry began on August 14 when Australian Border Force officials detected and halted a shipment containing over 45 kilograms of ketamine.

Both men, aged 25, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the plot.

AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden emphasized that the latest arrests by the Australian Federal Police highlight their dedication to tackling transnational organized crime and illegal drug trafficking.

“The people behind importations like this have no regard for the harm and damage that illicit drugs wreak on the Australian community,” he said.

“Ketamine, typically used as a horse tranquilizer, can have harmful effects on users, impacting not only them but also their families and the broader community. This quantity could have been divided into over a million street-level sales,” he added.

On August 14, federal police initiated an investigation. AFP officers extracted the drugs and executed a controlled delivery of the automotive parts to a location in Merrylands, in Sydney’s western suburbs.

Two men were then arrested, aged 45 and 27.

The individuals faced charges for attempting to import a commercial quantity of a prohibited border-controlled substance and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a prohibited border-controlled substance.

Both offences carry lifetime prison sentences; it will be alleged that both men worked together to receive the shipment and remove the ketamine.