Thirty-nine people have been charged and large amounts of cannabis, cannabis products and cash seized following an investigation into the alleged online supply of prohibited drugs.
In December 2024, officers attached to the Central Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad (RES) formed Strike Force Greentree, to investigate numerous persons and syndicates advertising prohibited drugs for sale on an open-source website.
Following extensive investigations, strike force officers executed a number of search warrants and a firearm prohibition order (FPO) compliance check between Wednesday 22 January and Thursday 20 March 2025.
Results of the operation were as follows:
- 39 people arrested and charged with drug supply & related offences,
- 11 search warrants executed & 1 x FPO executed,
- $262,575 in cash seized,
- 1,525 individual bags of cannabis seized,
- 74 kilograms of cannabis seized,
- 12 kilograms of THC edibles (confectionary, baked goods and cookies),
- 486 grams of psilocybin mushrooms seized, and
- 67g MDMA seized.
Incidents of note include:
- On Tuesday 18 March 2025, strike force officers with the assistance of specialist and other police executed a search warrant at a house in Stewart Street Arncliffe. Police seized numerous vacuum-sealed plastic bags containing cannabis, weighing over 5 kilograms, over $5,000 in cash, an electronic money counter and mobile telephones. The occupant, a 32-year-old man was arrested and taken to Kogarah Police Station.
A short time later, police executed a search warrant at a hydroponics business in Arncliffe. Police seized numerous exhibits including 40 individual vacuum sealed plastic bags containing cannabis, each weighing over 1 kilogram, with a total weight of 43 kilograms. A further 85 street level packages containing cannabis were also seized along with THC vapes and electronic items.
The man was charged with four offences –three counts of supply prohibited drug and deal with proceeds of crime. He appeared at Sutherland Local court on Wednesday 19 March 2025, where he was granted conditional bail to reappear at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 15 May 2025.
- Just before 2pm on Wednesday 19 March 2025, a 32-year-old man was stopped in a vehicle on Victoria Street, Kogarah. During a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly located 42 bags of cannabis weighing 436 grams, 10 vapes containing THC oil and $1140 cash. The man was taken to Kogarah Police Station where he was charged with three offences – two counts of supply prohibited drug and deal with property – proceeds of crime. The man appeared at Sutherland Local Court on Thursday 20 March 2025, where he was formally refused bail to reappear before the same court on Monday 24 March 2025.
- About 4.45pm on Wednesday 19 March 2025, a 29-year-old man was stopped in a vehicle on Park Street, Kogarah. During a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly located 40 bags of cannabis weighing 485 grams, 22 THC cannabis cookies containing THC and $105 cash. The man was taken to Kogarah Police Station and charged with three offences – two counts of supply prohibited drug and deal with property – proceeds of crime. The man appeared at Sutherland Local Court on Thursday 20 March 2025, where he was formally refused bail to reappear before the same court on Tuesday 15 April 2025.
- At 5.00pm on Wednesday 19 March 2025, a 19-year-old woman was stopped in a vehicle on Victoria Street, Kogarah. During a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly located 35 bags of cannabis weighing 385 grams. She was taken to Kogarah Police Station and charged with supply prohibited drug. The woman appeared at Sutherland Local Court on Thursday 20 March 2025 where the matter was dealt with.
- At 7.20pm on Wednesday 19 March 2025, a 20-year-old man was stopped in a vehicle in Phillip Street, Bondi Junction. During a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly located two bags of cannabis weighing 42 grams. The man was issued a court attendance notice for possess a prohibited drug. He is expected to appear at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday 1 April 2025. A passenger in the vehicle, a 20-year-old man, was found to have outstanding warrants for traffic and bail offences. He appeared at Waverley Local Court on Thursday 20 March 2025 where the matter was dealt with.
- Just after 3pm on Thursday 20 March 2025, a 25-year-old man was stopped in a vehicle on Paul Street Bondi. During a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly located six bags of cannabis weighing 63.5g. The man was issued a court attendance notice for supplying and possessing a prohibited drug. He will appear at Waverley Local Court Tuesday 29 April 2025.
- At 3:15pm on Thursday 20 March 2025, a 55-year-old man was stopped in a vehicle on Philip Street, Bondi. During a search of his vehicle, officers allegedly located 42 bags of cannabis and 24 pre-rolled cannabis 'joints' totalling 389g, four cannabis THC cookies weighing 87g and $610 in cash. The man was taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with three offences – two counts of supply prohibited drug and deal with property – proceeds of crime. The man appeared at Waverley Local Court on Friday 21 March 2025, where he was granted conditional bail to appear before the same Court on Wednesday 16 April 2025.
- At 5:30pm on Thursday 20 March 2025, a 35-year-old man was stopped in a vehicle on New Beach Road Darling Point. During a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly located six bags of cannabis totalling 114g and 20 cannabis THC cookies weighing 537g. The man was taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug. The man appeared at Waverley Local Court on Friday 21 March 2025, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday 6 May 2025.
