Shopping mall bust leads to alleged stolen baby formula hoard in South Australia

Three men have been charged after an alleged shoplifting incident led police to discover drugs and ultimately hundreds of tins of baby formula which was suspected of being stolen in South Australia.

Staff at a shop in Castle Plaza at Edwardstown, in Adelaide’s southwestern suburbs, confronted a man allegedly attempting to steal baby formula about 4.30pm on Thursday.

Police officers — who were already at the shopping centre on South Rd on an unrelated matter — were alerted and ran after the man.

Officers saw the man drop a package, which was later discovered to contain methamphetamine and heroin, SA Police said.

A 44-year-old man from Victoria was arrested and charged with two counts of trafficking a controlled substance and theft.

Police then searched an address at inner-suburban Heathpool, said to be linked to the man, where they allegedly found more than 240 tins of infant formula and multivitamins suspected of being stolen.

During the search, a Mercedes van arrived at the address.

It was searched by police who allegedly found 130 tins of infant formula, also suspected of being stolen.

The two occupants of the Mercedes, a 37-year-old man and a 49-year-old man both from Victoria, were arrested and charged with unlawful possession.

All three men were due to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday, February 7.