The operation from August 19 to August 23 also involved police from regional neighbor New Zealand.

Australian Police said they had made 1,611 drug-related arrests and laid 2,962 drug-related charges during the nationwide action, dubbed Operation Vitreus.

Almost 1,400 kg (more than 3,000 lb) of illicit drugs and more than 2,500 cannabis plants were seized, they said, worth in the region of 93 million Australian dollars (€57 million, $63 million) street value in total.

Altogether 71 guns were seized, along with more than 2.2 million Australian dollars in cash, according to the statement.

« Over $93M worth of illicit drugs were seized throughout the country last week alone, and whilst it’s an incredible result, it aptly highlights the seemingly insatiable demand there is in Australia for illicit substances, » said Dave Cowan, a spokesman for the police force in the eastern state of Victoria.

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