Australian authorities have seized the country's largest onshore ice shipment in history.

Border Force officers detected almost 1.6 tonnes of the drug - with a street value of over $1.2billion - hidden in speakers sent from Bangkok, Thailand.

Officers picked the cargo shipment for further inspection in a targeting operation and, after being x-rayed at Melbourne Container Examination Facility, they noticed anomalies in the speakers.

They then took the speakers apart and found vacuum-sealed bags of the drug inside.

Australian authorities have seized the country's largest illicit ice shipment in history

Border Force officers detected almost 1.6 tonnes of the drug - worth over $1billion - hidden in speakers originating from Bangkok, Thailand

ABF Regional Commander Victoria Craig Palmer said the record detection - equivalent to 16 million drug deals - would have a significant impact on drug supply.

'Without the sophisticated targeting and detection capabilities of the ABF, these drugs would have made it to the streets of Melbourne and beyond,' Commander Palmer said.

'This is the largest meth bust we've ever seen in this country and demonstrates not only the brazen nature of those involved in this criminal activity, but the resolve of the ABF in Victoria and around the country to stop these imports,' he said.

There was also 37kgs of heroin detected in the shipment with an estimated street value of $18.5m.

ABF Regional Commander Victoria, Craig Palmer, said the record detection - equivalent to 16 million drug deals - would have a significant impact on drug supply

Officers selected the cargo shipment for further inspection in a targeting operation

RECENT DRUG SEIZURES BOUND FOR AUSTRALIA JUNE Australian Border Force discovered half a tonne of ice worth nearly $400M in container claiming to clothing. Four men were arrested in suburbs across Sydney's south and west in relation to the bust. Border Force officers detected almost 1.6 tonnes of the drug - with a street value of over $1.2billion - hidden in speakers sent from Bangkok, Thailand, in Melbourne. Officers picked the cargo shipment for further inspection in a targeting operation and, after being x-rayed at Melbourne Container Examination Facility. MAY About 480kg of ice was seized as it made its way into Australia leading to the arrest of two men in their twenties and a woman in her thirties. JANUARY A massive shipment of drugs - 1.7 tonnes of ice - was seized in California as it was about to be shipped to Australia NOVEMBER 2018 A 37-year-old American woman was intercepted trying to smuggle 13kg of ice into Sydney airport in four Lego boxes. JANUARY 2018 Over 300 kg of ice was seized onboard a cargo ship bound for a South Australian port. 2017 In Western Australia, police found 1.2 tonnes of meth onboard a boat at Geraldton. Advertisement

There have been no arrests so far, however, the investigation is continuing.

AFP Acting Commander Peter Bodel, Organised Crime, said the seizure has stopped almost 1.6 tonnes of insidious drugs from devastating the Victorian community.

'The effect of these drugs on the community and families would have been profound. It may be your loved one, a friend or neighbour who has been spared the terrifying impact of this mammoth shipment.'

'If you have any information – please come forward. Help us find the people who are willing to put their profit before the pain and suffering of others.'

In a separate incident earlier this year Australian police arrested six people in Victoria and New South Wales after a huge shipment of ice was found in California.

The 1.7 tonne haul, also understood to have been concealed in audio equipment, was bound for Australia.

The drug bust was the result of a joint U.S. and Australian investigation.