More than 100 people have been arrested and charged during the latest 'Dial-a-Dealer' operation run across Sydney over the past three weekends.
Strike Force Northrop has been operating since 2017 and is led by Central Metropolitan Region's (CMR) Regional Enforcement Squad.
The Strike Force primarily targets the alleged supply of cocaine by syndicates and/or individuals.
The most recent targeted operation took place over three consecutive weekends, commencing 22 November 2024 and concluding Saturday 7 December 2024, with a total of 108 people arrested and charged.
Of these, 64 were charged with supply a prohibited drug, 44 were charged with drug possession offences, and one person was also charged with domestic violence-related offences.
Drugs with an estimated potential street value of $210,000 were seized, comprising.
- Almost 560g cocaine (more than 650 individual bags seized)
- More than 27g of MDMA (78 caps seized)
- 467g of cannabis
- 450g of THC edibles
- 3.5g of ketamine, and
- 0.7g methylamphetamine (Ice).
Notably, more than $99,000 in cash was seized during the operation with five vehicles seized under asset confiscation protocols. All items were seized for further examination.
Arrests of note from the three weekends include,
- A 22-year-old man was arrested about 6pm on 22 November 2024, after being stopped on Hunter Street, Sydney. When his vehicle was searched, police allege 14 bags of cocaine and more than $6000 cash was found in a hidden compartment. The man was taken to Day Street Police Station where he was charged with six offences, supply a prohibited drug, knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime, deal in proceeds of crime, possess prohibited drug, drive while suspended, and not comply with P1 licence – not display P plates. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on 18 December 2024.
- A 19-year-old man was arrested about 6.30pm on Friday 22 November, after being stopped on Tonkin Street, Cronulla. When his vehicle was searched, police allege 18 bags of cocaine were located and seized. The man was taken to Sutherland Police Station where he was charged with two counts of supply a prohibited drug. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Sutherland Local Court on 12 December 2024.
- A 22-year-old man was arrested about 4.30pm on 29 November 2024 in after being stopped on Spring Street, Sydney. The man and his vehicle were searched with police allegedly locating and seizing 21 bags of cocaine and 60 MDMA caps and $750 cash. He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with four offences, three counts of supply a prohibited drug and one count of deal with property proceeds of crime. The man – who is a Korean National but lives at Lidcombe –was granted conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on 17 December 2024.
- A 28-year-old man was arrested about 4.30pm on 29 November 2024 in after being stopped in Woolloomooloo. The man was searched with police allegedly locating and seizing two bags of cocaine and $1100 cash. He was taken to Kings Cross Police Station where he was charged with one count each supply a prohibited drug, and deal with property proceeds of crime. The man was granted conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on 10 December 2024.
- An 18-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man were arrested after a vehicle was stopped and searched in Gymea at 8.45pm last Saturday (7 December 2024). Police will allege 10 bags of cocaine, $1415 cash and a can of OC spray were located and seized during the search. They were taken to Sutherland Police Station where the woman was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug, and one count each of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, and deal with property proceeds of crime. She was granted conditional bail to appear before Sutherland Local Court on 9 January 2025. The man was charged with two counts of supply a prohibited drug, and one count of deal with property proceeds of crime. He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Bail Court yesterday (Sunday 8 December 2024). He was granted conditional bail to appear in Sutherland Local Court on 9 January 2025.
- A 31-year-old man was arrested after a vehicle was stopped and searched in Bondi at 5:10pm last Saturday (7 December 2024). Police will allege nine bags of cocaine, three bags of MDMA, a bag containing cannabis and $1110 cash was located and seized. He was taken to Waverley Police Station and charged with three counts of supply a prohibited drug, possess a prohibited drug, and deal with the proceeds of crime. He was refused bail and appeared in Parramatta Bail Court yesterday (Sunday 8 December 2024). The man was once again refused bail to appear in Waverley Local Court on 10 December 2024.
- A 26-year-old man was arrested after a vehicle was stopped in Woollahra at 7:30pm last Saturday (7 December 2024). Police will allege cocaine and cash was found in a hidden compartment within the vehicle. He was taken to Waverley Police Station and charged with supply prohibited drug and deal with property proceeds of crime. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on 7 January 2025.
- A 45-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were arrested in Bondi Road, Bondi, about 6pm last Saturday (7 December 2024). Police will allege when searched 24 bags of cocaine weighing were located. When the vehicle was searched, police will allege $3450 cash and a knife were found. They were taken to Waverley Police Station where they've each been charged with supply prohibited drug, deal with property proceeds of crime, and custody of a knife in a public place. They were granted conditional bail to appear in Waverley Local Court on 7 January 2025.
- A 21-year-old man was arrested after being stopped on Crown Street, Surry Hills, about 7.15pm last Saturday (7 December 2024). Police will allege when searched 10 bags of cocaine were found. When the vehicle was searched, police will allege $2150 cash was found and seized. The man was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with supply a prohibited drug (indictable quantity). He was granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 23 January 2025.
- A 26-year-old man was arrested about 9:45pm last Saturday (7 December 2024), in Gymea Bay Road, Gymea. He was taken to Sutherland Police Station where he was issued a criminal infringement notice for possess prohibited drug. Inquiries into a related incident involving an 18-year-old man at the same location are continuing, after vehicle which police allege he was driving, was searched and $2050 cash and cannabis was located and seized.
Central Metropolitan Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna, said operations targeting the distribution of illegal drugs in the Sydney area will continue.
"This operation highlights NSW Police's commitment to combatting illegal drug supply and I am backing that commitment by ongoing operations targeting suppliers operating in the Central Metropolitan Region," Assistant Commissioner McKenna said.
"Whether they are major drug suppliers, mid-level or street level, I will continue to put resources into disrupting their operations and prosecuting them for their true criminality.
"We opened 2024 with a significant operation targeting major dealers and have continued to put pressure on illegal drug distribution, with these three weekends of action focused on street-level distributors."
"This was an intelligence-driven operation which incorporated the specialist skills of personnel from all Central Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squads, PACs, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, and the Dog Squad".
"We will continue operations under Strike Force Northrop this year and into 2025," Assistant Commissioner McKenna said.
