Second bust by Australian navy in a week of a vessel with drugs off Tanzania coast

Crew members of HMAS Melbourne with seized drugs prior to them being destroyed. Photo: ABIS JAYSON TUFREY

The Australian Associated Press reports that on Friday, Australian warship HMAS Melbourne made another multimillion dollar drug bust on the high seas off Tanzania, the second in a week following the seizure and destruction of 385 kilogrammes of heroin from a vessel in the same area on February 5th, 2014.

The two big drug hauls are estimated to be worth more than A$1 billion in a street value.

In October, the ship disrupted a pirate gang off Somalia and then made three amphetamine busts, totalling 23.8 kilograms.

After testing, seized drugs are usually destroyed by dumping them overboard.