Authorities say 52 vials of suspected hazardous substances, including low-level radioactive isotopes, were found at a home in Sydney’s south on Thursday.
Authorities including the Australian Border Force (ABF) and specialist crews from Fire and Rescue NSW’s hazmat team raided a home on Kelsey St in Arncliffe about Thursday 9am and remained at the property until about 10.20pm.
On Friday, the ABF said officers raided the home after the government agency detected a range of illicit substances being imported through air cargo.
It said that at this time there was no evidence to suggest the incident posed “any kind of national security risk”.
The substances have now been transported to the relevant facilities and will undergo testing.
During the dramatic operation, the residential street was cordoned off with “hot zone” tape and a 10m exclusion zone was marked around the property.
A FRNSW statement said the isotopes were found in suitable containers and did not release any radiation.
While the three occupants at the home were taken to hospital for observation, there was no evidence of exposure.
Authorities said a 23-year-old Australian man was assisting officers with ongoing investigations and no charges had been laid.
In a brief statement, ABF Deputy Commissioner Tim Fitzgerald said there were “no ongoing risks to the community”.
He also commended NSW’s emergency services and the Commonwealth agencies who assisted the search.
“Our officers have done an incredible job under extremely testing circumstances to ensure that all of the vials that we located during the warrant action have now been safely transferred for testing and evaluation,” he said.
“At the forefront of our minds at all times during the operations was the safety and wellbeing of the community and our officers that are involved.”
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