Organised Crime Squad detectives have arrested three men and seized 96kg of MDMA following an investigation into an alleged drug ring under Strike Force Eastport.
Strike Force Eastport was established by State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad in August 2023 to investigate an alleged drug ring operating across Sydney with significant Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) links.
Following extensive inquiries, about 10.50am yesterday (Wednesday 5 March 2024), strike force detectives – with assistance from the Tactical Operations Unit – attended an address in Cranebrook where they arrested a 40-year-old man.
At the location, strike force detectives seized 30kg of MDMA, just under $1 million and a mobile phone.
The man was taken to Penrith Police Station where he was charged with a total of four counts of supply prohibited drug >= large commercial quantity, manufacture prohibited drug >= commercial quantity and knowingly direct activities of criminal group.
He was refused bail to appear in Penrith Local Court today (Thursday 7 March 2024).
Subsequently, strike force detectives executed a number of simultaneous search warrants in Chatswood, Castlereagh, Shalvey, and Punchbowl.
Nearby the Chatswood address, officers arrested a 53-year-old man who was taken to Chatswood Police Station and charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug >= large commercial quantity and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty.
He was refused bail to appear before Hornsby Local Court today.
At the Shalvey address, officers arrested a 32-year-old man who was taken to Mt Druitt Police Station and charged with supply prohibited drug >= large commercial quantity, participate criminal group and fail to comply with digital evidence access order direction.
He was refused bail to appear before Mt Druitt Local Court today.
During the Cranebrook search warrant, detectives located an alleged clandestine laboratory and assistance was sought from the Drug & Firearms Squad Chemical Operations Unit to process it.
Across all of the search warrants, police located an additional 66kg of MDMA, 12.5kg of iodine, approximately 100 litres of hypophosphorous acid and other items relevant to their investigation.
In total, 96kg of MDMA was seized with an estimated street value of $24 million.
Investigations under Strike Force Eastport 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.
