Officers from across the NSW Police Force have seized over $14 million worth of prohibited drugs across the state, disrupting significant sources of large-scale drug supply and organised crime activity as part of Operation Vitreus national week of action.
Operation Vitreus is a joint initiative between all Australian state and territory police agencies, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, AUSTRAC, Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and New Zealand Police, which ran between Monday 19 August 2024 and Friday 23 August 2024.
During the operation, 1611 people were arrested, resulting in 2962 charges and the seizure of over 7kg of heroine, 107kg of methylamphetamine, 42kg of cocaine, 12kg of MDMA, 2.5kg of ketamine, 2512 cannabis plants and 247kg of cannabis, as well as 71 firearms and over $2.2 million in cash.
The estimated combined street value of all drugs seized during the operation is $93 million.
The NSW Police operation – led by State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad – saw over 311 arrests, resulting in 456 charges, and the seizure of over 1.4kg of heroine, 18.6kg of methylamphetamine, 3.6kg of cocaine, 287g of MDMA, 132 Cannabis plants and 4.8kg of cannabis and 23 firearms.
The estimated combined street value of all drugs seized in NSW is over $14 million.
Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, Commander of NSW Police Force's Organised Crime Squad and national chair of Operation Vitreus, has praised the combined efforts of all agencies involved in this year's operation.
"The national week of action, involving representatives from all law enforcement and intelligence agencies across Australia and New Zealand, has resulted in the significant seizures of prohibited drugs, both at the border and within our communities.
"Collaboration between all agencies is vital to the success of this operation and we will continue to work together to prevent these harmful drugs from entering our communities," Det Supt Faux said.
"The week of action has seen over 1600 people charged and put before the courts around the country for drug related offences. The message is: if you use prohibited drugs, supply prohibited drugs or import prohibited drugs, these arrests are warning to you that there is a high likelihood that you will come to the attention of law enforcement.
Incidents of note include:
- In April 2024, officers attached to Wetherill Park Region Enforcement Squad established Strike Force Biofuel to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs in south west Sydney.
Following extensive investigations, strike force officers – with assistance from specialist officers – executed five search warrants Mt Prichard, Fairfield, Panania and Condell Park at about 6.50am Friday 23 August 2024.
During the search, strike force officers seized methylamphetamine, cannabis, large amounts of precursor, equipment used in the large-scale manufacture of drugs, electronic devices and $6560 in cash.
Three men – a 48-year-old Fairfield man, a 30-year-old Mt Prichard man and a 59-year-old Panania man – were arrested and taken to Fairfield Police Station.
The Fairfield man was charged with eight counts of supply prohibited drug, five counts of take part supply prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and fail to comply digital evidence access order direction.
The Mt Prichard man was charged with seven counts of take part supply prohibited drug, two counts of supply prohibited drug, two counts of supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
The Panania man was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, two counts of take part supply prohibited drug, use unregistered class A motor vehicle on road, use uninsured motor vehicle on road, use vehicle on road or road related area motor vehicle tax not paid and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.
All three men were refused bail and appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday 24 August 2024.
- In August 2024, detectives attached to State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad established Strike Force Mactier following the seizure of over $8 million worth of prohibited drugs from two Homebush Units.
As a result of the investigation, detectives charged a 25-year-old man for his alleged role in the supply of prohibited drugs in Sydney. He remains before the courts.
Following further investigations, detectives arrested a 25-year-old woman and 27-year-old man at Burwood Police Station on Friday 23 August 2024.
The woman was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug and possess prohibited drug.
The man was charged with supply prohibited drug, take part supply prohibited drug, deal with property proceeds of crime less than $100,000 and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
They were both refused bail and appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday 24 August 2024.
Police would also like to remind the public about the health issues of these drugs targeted during Operation Vitreus.
General health risks/harms associated with illicit drugs
- Illicit drug use carries inherent risks and taking even a known substance can result in unintended harm.
- The consumption of alcohol and other drugs is a major cause of preventable disease and illness in Australia.
- The harms from drug use impact – directly and indirectly – on all Australian communities, families and individuals. Impacts range across the spectrum of health, social and economic harms. Health harms include injuries, chronic conditions and diseases, mental health problems, road trauma, and overdose.
Methamphetamine
- The health harms associated with the use of methamphetamine and other stimulants include mental illness, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular problems and overdose.
- People who inject methamphetamine and share needles are at increased risk of contracting hepatitis C, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS as well as infection and vein damage.
- Methamphetamine production often relies on unknown and/or harmful ingredients. This can further increase the health risks associated with consumption.
GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate)
- Consumption of GHB can cause drowsiness, vomiting, mood swings and dependence. GHB use carries a high risk of unconsciousness, respiratory collapse and overdose because there is very little difference between the amount that it is typically consumed and the amount that will cause overdose.
- The risk of GHB overdose increases when its use is combined with other drugs such as alcohol, benzodiazepines and opioids.
Synthetic opioids including fentanyl and nitazenes
- The negative health consequences of opioids, including synthetic opioids includes dependence, infectious disease transmission (primarily through risky injecting practice) and death from overdose.
- Synthetic opioids can be extremely potent which increases the risk of health harms including overdose.
- People who use other drugs such as heroin and cocaine may inadvertently consume synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and nitazenes when it is used as an adulterant. Synthetic opioids have also be found in counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs. Inherently this kind of exposure increases the risk of overdose.
- The Take Home Naloxone (THN) Program makes naloxone, a medicine that temporarily reverse the effects of opioids (including synthetic opioids), available for free, without the need for a prescription, to people who may experience, or witness an opioid overdose. Further details at: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/take-home-naloxone-program
Alcohol and drug treatment hotline
- The National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline provides free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs treatment services on 1800 250 015. Further information on treatment and supports is available from: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/drug-help/how-to-find-help
Overdose
- Drugs are unpredictable and they can affect people in different ways.
- Call 000 for an ambulance immediately if there is even the slightest risk that someone is having an unusual reaction to a drug.
- Emergency services will only notify police if there is a risk to their own personal safety or if someone dies.
