Raptor Squad officers have charged seven people in Sydney following the dismantling and attempted arson of a multimillion-dollar Revesby drug lab discovered earlier this year.
In March 2024, officers attached to State Crime Command's Raptor Squad located an inactive clandestine lab at a Revesby industrial complex following an investigation into organised drug supply in Sydney.
During a search of the lab, officers located and seized over 12kg of methylamphetamine and precursors estimated to have a street value of over $6 million.
Specialist police from the Drug and Firearms Squad's Chemical Operations Unit, the Technical Forensic Support Unit and NSW Fire & Rescue were called for assistance dismantling the lab and to conduct a forensic examination.
A crime scene guard was put in place overnight as the dismantling process occurred.
During this process, police located a man on the roof of the lab allegedly attempting to set it alight with police inside before he fled the scene.
The fire was extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW with minimal damage to the scene and no one was injured.
Raptor Squad officers took carriage of the matter and established Strike Force Ooranga to investigate the lab and the arson.
Following extensive investigations, strike force officers – with assistance from specialist police – executed ten search warrants across Sydney including Yagoona, Prestons, Heckenberg, Narellan and Croydon Park yesterday (Tuesday 3 September 2024).
During these searches, officers located and seized over $1.8 million in illicit cigarettes, 100kg of loose tobacco, $37,000 in cash, small amounts of cannabis and multiple electronic devices.
Strike force officers arrested six men – a 28-year-old Narellan man, a 39-year-old Yagoona man, a 27-year-old Heckenberg man, a 31-year-old Prestons man, a 40-year-old Yagoona man and a 33-year-old Croydon Park man – and one 33-year-old Croydon Park woman during the searches.
The 28-year-old was taken to Narellan Police Station where he was charged with taken part manufacture prohibited drug large commercial quantity, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and deal with property proceeds of crime less than $100,000.
The 39 and 40-year-old were taken to Bankstown Police Station where they were charged with manufacture prohibited drug large commercial quantity and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
The 27 and 31-year-old were taken to Liverpool Police Station where they were also charged with manufacture prohibited drug large commercial quantity and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
All of these men were refused bail to appear before court yesterday, with the 28-year-old appearing before Mona Vale Local Court, the 39 and 40-year-old men appearing before Bankstown Local Court and the 27 and 31-year-old men appearing before Liverpool Local Court.
The Croydon Park man and woman were taken to Burwood Police Station where they were charges with deal with property - proceeds of crime, possession of tobacco more than 100kg and convey/possess tobacco recklessly defraud revenue.
They were granted conditional bail to appear before Burwood Local Court on Tuesday 24 September 2024.
Police will allege in court the lab produced hundreds of kilos of methamphetamine with an estimated street value in excess of $50 million.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis, Commander of Raptor Squad, said targeting groups like this makes the city significantly safer by reducing the supply of such dangerous drugs.
"These drugs are incredibly dangerous and by targeting the alleged sources we have potentially saved thousands of lives there is no doubt about it.
"The sale of these drugs we believe has also fuelled organised crime across this state. For those criminals out there, who have been profiting from putting these dangerous substances into our communities, know it is a matter of time before we come for you." Det Supt Koutsoufis said.
Investigations under Strike Force Ooranga continue.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators 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.
