Three men charged over ice seizure 200kg ice hidden in truck tyres Father and son charged after joint operation seizes drug with estimated $200 million street value. PT0M59S http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-2vdf2 620 349 October 11, 2013 - 2:21PM A father and son have been charged with importing more than 200 kilograms of the drug ice in a trailer truck's tyres. Patrick Cini, 59, from Altona Meadows, and his son Rhys Cini, 29, from Point Cook, were charged with importing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine at Brisbane on September 27. They were also charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of the drug at Port Melbourne on October 3. The men face possible life sentences. A third man, Rami Tawachi, 25, also from Point Cook, was charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of methamphetamine. The arrests follow a joint Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and Customs operation that culminated with raids this week. Police believe the drugs have an estimated street value of up to $200 million. Further tests will be done to determine the exact weight and purity of the ice. Commander Scott Lee, AFP manager of the Melbourne Office, said the three men had until recently been dock workers and were "key members of an organised crime syndicate." "We believe one of the individuals was suspended from working on the docks, and the other stopped working a month ago," he said. As far as we are aware, they no longer have access to the waterfront control area. Commander Lee said officers had executed seven search warrants in the suburbs of Altona Meadows, Brooklyn, Point Cook and Hoppers Crossing and arrested the three men on Wednesday. An eighth search warrant was executed at a factory in Laverton on Thursday. Hard drives, mobile phones and $80,000 in cash were also taken during the searches. Commander Lee said crystal meth was "recognised as one of the drivers of violence in our community," and users carried a high risk of repeat offending. Graham Krisohos, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service regional director Victoria, said hiding the drugs in the tyres of the truck "indicates that the concealments are sophisticated, and do require expertise and effort to actually uncover." In this case, the tyres were removed from the wheel, and the substances put in there. You could look at the item but not detect it [without an X-ray]," he said. The drugs are believed to have come from Shanghai, and police are working with the international AFP network based in China.