Six members of a criminal syndicate have been arrested on accusations they stole over NZ$1.06 million worth of baby formula to be sold in China over a period of 12 months, New South Wales police said.
A 31-year-old man was arrested at Sydney International Airport Saturday after arriving into the country from China, according to ABC News.
Three men and two women, four of whom belonged to the same family, were arrested in recent months.
Police seized 4000 tins of baby formula after searching two homes in Carlingford, in New South Wales, last August.
Other items alleged to have been stolen, including vitamins and manuka honey, were also seized as part of the operation, in addition to NZ$229,000 in cash.
"We're thinking this was quite an expansive criminal group that was exploiting an overseas market at the disadvantage of the Australian public," Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty said.
The group is believed to have operated over a number of years.
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