Australian police break up alleged baby formula crime family

Australian police have broken up a criminal gang accused of stealing thousands of tins of baby formula worth one million Australian dollars ($720,000) from stores over the past year and shipping them for sale in China.

Six people, including four members of the same family, have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the syndicate.

Last August, investigators raided two homes linked to the syndicate and seized 4,000 tins of baby formula, large quantities of vitamins, Manuka honey and 215,000 Australian dollars ($154,000).

Police believe the gang had run a lucrative operation for years, and made thousands of shipments of baby formula to China in the past 12 months, Daniel Doherty, New South Wales robbery and serious crime squad commander,