Ecstasy worth $440 million was seized, the world's single largest seizure.

The AFP conducted morning raids in Victoria and interstate last Friday, arresting 16 people, including many from the north-west.

AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty said the seizure was a major victory in the fight to stop drug syndicates supplying dangerous drugs.

"Investigations, like this one, that include targeting the illegal financing of organised criminal syndicates involved in the global trade in illicit drugs are proving highly successful and ensure an economic as well as social return for the community."

Among those charged were:

Two West Footscray man, aged 35 and 24, charged with money laundering in excess of $1 million.

A 40-year-old Keilor East man charged with conspiracy to importing and trafficking ecstasy.

A Werribee man, 34, charged with trafficking ecstasy.

A Sydenham man, 34, charged with trafficking ecstasy.

A 61-year-old Taylors Lakes man charged with conspiracy to import ecstasy.

The haul of ecstasy tablets was found inside tomato tins in a shipping container in June last year, triggering a joint operation by the AFP and Australian Customs Service into drug trafficking. Investigators found more than 3000 tins weighing about 1.5 kilograms each and containing ecstasy tablets with a total street value of $440 million.

During their investigations, AFP and customs officers identified cocaine weighing 150kilograms that arrived in another shipping container in Melbourne in July.

They also identified a money laundering operation worth more than $9 million that the syndicate allegedly used to pay for the illegal drugs.

Mr Keelty said the operation involved 400 AFP officers.

"This is an extraordinary outcome for law enforcement as it continues to work together to detect illicit drugs before they reach Australia. International intelligence, combined with the co-operation of local law enforcement agencies, played a big role in the success of the operation."