Three men have been arrested and 313 kilograms of ice seized, in what Federal Police have said is the largest haul of the drug in South Australia.

Key points: A boat was intercepted by the Australian Border Force in January

A boat was intercepted by the Australian Border Force in January Bags of white powder were allegedly found

Bags of white powder were allegedly found They were seized and tested by the Australian Federal Police

They were seized and tested by the Australian Federal Police A presumptive test indicated a positive reaction to crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice

Police said the shipment — with an estimated value of about $270 million — was hidden in two crane jibs and most likely originated in south-east Asia.

They said there was no indication of involvement by outlaw motorcycle gangs, and the shipment was intercepted by Border Force in January.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Organised Crime and Cyber Neil Gaughan said it was a multiagency investigation.

"This is a senior tangible example of Australian law enforcement working cooperatively to disrupt organised crime," he said.

"We have seen many, many examples of this over the last years.

"The job only just begins.

"The AFP will work with its international partners to determine where these drug[s] have come from and we will work with our international partners to disrupt the drug making at its source, which we believe is in south-east Asia."

Searches across three suburbs

Last Friday, members of the AFP, Australian Border Force and South Australia Police conducted three search warrants in Waterloo Corner, Green Fields and Two Wells.

The three men — 64-year-old Reginald Roberts, 61-year-old Steven Sherriff and 45-year-old Bill Mayne — were arrested at the Waterloo Corner address.

They have been charged with attempted possession of a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug.

Mr Roberts and Mr Sherriff were also charged with importation of a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs.

The importation offence has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Mr Roberts and Mr Sherriff made no application for bail and were remanded in custody after a brief appearance in the Adelaide Magistrates Court.

Their co-accused Mr Mayne was granted bail with conditions including that he does not leave the state and does not have contact with the other men.

All three will face court again on April 24.

Drugs seized were destined for ice capital of Australia

He said the drugs were heading for Adelaide, which has been dubbed the nation's "ice capital".

"We have seen record seizures of cocaine and methamphetamine on the east coast of Australia in 2017 and here today in Adelaide, another record seizure," he said.

"We need to have discussions in the community around the issue of demand.

"Why do we have such a demand? In 2018, we need to seriously have a discussion in the community as to what to do to stop the demand.

"Until we do that, the record seizures will continue."

Last year sewage analysis revealed Adelaide was Australia's methylamphetamine capital with the highest ice levels per person.

The 2017 National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program tested the sewage of more than 14 million Australians and found that methylamphetamine or ice was the most prevalent illicit drug in the country.

The report revealed about 80 doses per 1,000 people a day were being used in the Adelaide region, the highest amount recorded for the area in the data's eight-year history.

Ice shipment seized by police, February 2018. ( Supplied: Australian Federal Police )

The national average is just over 30 doses per 1,000 people a day.

SA haul follows year of record ice seizures in Australia

In December last year eight men were charged after a record 1.2 tonnes of methamphetamine was brought in by boat to the port of Geraldton in Western Australia, worth an estimated $1.04 billion.

It followed a 903-kilogram seizure in Melbourne in early 2017.