Police have charged 17 people and seized cocaine with a street value of $50,000 and $35,000 cash during a proactive operation in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs at the weekend.
Operation Express ran during Friday 15October and Saturday 16 October 2021 evenings, involving officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, to prevent and disrupt crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.
During the operation, police seized 94.2 grams of cocaine, which has an estimated potential street value of $50,000, and $35,280 cash.
A total of 17 people were arrested and charged with drug-related and proceeds of crime offences.
Eastern Suburbs Commander, Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman, said similar proactive operations will run throughout the local area to prevent and disrupt criminal activity.
"With the reopening of licensed venues and the weather warming up, we are expecting lots of people out and about in the Eastern Suburbs, so police will be out to make sure everyone stays safe," Det Supt Fileman said.
"This weekend there was a focused effort targeting anti-social behaviour – and thanks to the work of our officers – $50,000 worth of cocaine is now off our streets and 17 people have been charged."
"The community can be assured that police will maintain a highly visible presence to target these types of illicit activities and other criminal behaviour."
"We want to send a clear message to people who think they can partake in illicit activities. These are serious offences, you will be charged and put before the courts" Det Supt Fileman said.
Incidents of note include:
- About 6pm on Friday, police stopped a taxi on Greenoaks Avenue, Double Bay, and spoke to the driver – a 56-year-old man from Bankstown. The driver and vehicle were searched, with police seizing $8800 cash located in the car's centre console and 34 bags of cocaine, with a total weight of 20.9 grams. The man was arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug and deal with property proceeds of crime. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 8 December 2021.
- Just after 4pm on Saturday, police stopped and searched a vehicle and the occupants on Council Street, Bondi. Officers seized nine bags of cocaine totalling 8 grams, and $3850 in cash. The passenger – a 47-year-old man from Bondi Junction – was arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug. He was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Bail Court yesterday (Sunday 17 October 2021), where he was formally refused bail to reappear at Central Local Court on Wednesday 20 October 2021.
- Just after 5pm on Saturday, police patrolling Shaw Street, Bondi, stopped a taxi after they noticed it travel a short distance between picking up and dropping off a passenger. Police spoke to another passenger – a 21-year-old man from Austral – inside. A search of the man and the car located 27 bags of cocaine, totalling 17.7 grams, and $8040 cash. The man was arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug and deal with property proceeds of crime. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Waverley Local Court on Tuesday 30 November 2021.
- About 10.40pm on Saturday, police stopped a vehicle on Griffith Avenue, Bondi, after they saw a man withdraw cash at an ATM, before getting into a car and quickly getting out again. Officers stopped the vehicle and spoke to the driver – a 24-year-old from Matraville – before conducting a search where they seized 14 bags of cocaine, $8000 cash and a knife. The man was taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug, deal with property proceeds of crime and custody of knife in public place. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Waverley Local Court on Tuesday 30 November 2021.
- About 11.30pm on Saturday, police were patrolling the main streets of Double Bay when they stopped and spoke to the driver of a vehicle – a 36-year-old woman from St Marys. They subsequently searched the vehicle, during which they located a soft drink can with a false lid that contained 15 bags of cocaine, and a plastic container with a further 20 bags. The total weight of the cocaine was 23.6 grams. Also seized was $3000 cash. The woman was arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station where she was charged with supply prohibited drug and deal with property proceeds of crime. She was granted conditional bail to appear before Waverley Local Court on Friday 3 December 2021.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
