Joint police sting unravels alleged major crime ring accused of importing cold and flu drugs from China A MAJOR crime ring suspected of importing enough cold and flu drugs from China to manufacture and supply up to 50kg of meth in Queensland and New South Wales has been brought to heel as part of a major joint operation by police. A crack squad of detectives from Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission in conjunction with the NSW State Crime Command Drug Squad arrested key players during a series of raids on Thursday night. Forestdale man Anthony George Hundric, 43, Kuraby man Robert Wing Pong Chan, 71, and his partner Helen Ha Lau, 52, all fronted the Brisbane Magistrates Court in custody on Friday as part of the Strike Force Lithium sting. Magistrate John McGrath granted bail to Lau, who owns several Chinese restaurants in Bundaberg, but remanded her co-accused in custody. Lau, who was suspected of being "groomed" to take over the running of the business, is due to front Parramatta Local Court in Sydney later this month on multiple charges including supplying drugs, participating in a criminal group and for knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime. Police have accused the trio of importing pseudoephedrine from cold and flu medication called Contac NT from China. The drug is commercially unavailable in Australia. Pseudoephedrine, which the sale of is highly regulated in Australia, is a key ingredient used in the manufacture of methamphetamines in clandestine drug labs. They also stand accused of having other pre-cursor chemicals in their possession, including iodine and hypo phosphorous acid. The amounts were estimated to potentially manufacture more than 50kg of methyl amphetamine. The police investigation included a controlled operation over several months that used an informant to purchase and possess pseudoephedrine and drugs from Hundric and his associates. Police alleged Hundric carried out the illicit operation across the Queensland-New South Wales border by car. Several purchases were made in Sydney in December, including an exchange of $38,500 for 1kg of pseudoephedrine which was paid for and collected from hotels at Pyrmont and Alexandria. In January this year, the informant purchased another 3kg of pseudoephedrine for $108,500. The pre-cursor was allegedly personally delivered by Hundric with the cash being delivered to Lau in a pink shopping bag in the foyer of the Star Casino. Detectives orchestrated a traffic stop on the Pacific Highway at Duranbah some weeks later, with police officers from the Tweed Heads Highway Patrol conducting a "routine search" of Hundric's car on his return from Sydney to collect pseudoephedrine. He was arrested upon the discovery of 3kg of pre-cursor drugs but not charged after telling detectives he'd been told to take it to Queensland as a "Chinese New Year gift" and had no knowledge of its contents. Police alleged Hundric met an informant at a hotel in Kingscliff, in northern NSW, in March and organised the supply of a further 2kg of pseudoephedrine. It was alleged Hundric flew to Sydney for the deal and returned with 1kg of Contac NT hidden in a biscuit box. Last month, detectives alleged Hundric made arrangements to obtain a further 5kg of pre-cursor chemicals on the informant's behalf but was ultimately unsuccessful. Hundric's lawyer, barrister Sam di Carlo, made no application for bail on his client's behalf. He was extradited to front the Lismore Magistrates Court on Monday. Chan made no application for bail and was remanded in custody to reappear for committal call-over in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 19. Lau is due in the Parramatta Local Court on July 26.