Police in Australia and New Zealand believe they have disrupted the Pacific operation of a United Kingdom crime syndicate after four Britons were arrested in an operation.

Police said they seized 766 kilograms of MDMA powder in the northern Australian state of Queensland on Tuesday.

They said the powder, the highest purity recorded in Queensland could have made up to 12 million pills with an estimated market value of £50.7 million. 

Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker said the drugs represented around 7 percent of Australia’s yearly total and the biggest MDMA seizure in Queensland and the third-biggest in Australia.

“Organized crime syndicates are making significant profit at the expense of our Australian community but more importantly they are placing our young people’s health at risk.

“This operation has been focused on targeting and dismantling this organized syndicate,” Wacker added. 

Two male Britons, a 51-year-old and a 40-year-old were arrested on suspicion of drug supply and possession. They are currently being held in custody.

A 26-year-old Australian man was also arrested on suspicion of possession and supply of dangerous drugs while being a participant in a criminal organization. The said drugs were found during raids on property in Loganlea, south of Brisbane.

Police also searched property at Lennox Heads and Ballina in northern New South Wales. Vehicles and around AUS$108,000 (£61,000) in cash were also seized by police. An Australian woman aged 51 was charged in connection with the seized money.

The seizures come just days after Police in the New Zealand city of Auckland seized 200 kilograms of methamphetamine during a search on an apartment.

Two Britons, a 60-year-old man arrested at the apartment and a 49-year-old man who was apprehended at the city’s airport have been charged.