NSW Police have charged 17 people after seizing cocaine valued at approximately $18,600 as part of a targeted police operation ahead of Christmas Day.
In September 2017, detectives attached to the Central Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad (South), established Strike Force Northrop to investigate and target the ongoing supply of cocaine within the Greater Sydney region.
As part of ongoing investigations into criminal syndicates utilising the 'Dial-a-Dealer' methodology, Strike Force Northrop took place on three nights in the past two weeks between Monday 13 December 2021 and yesterday (Thursday 23 December 2021).
During the operation, officers seized more than 31 grams of cocaine and $11,000 cash.
Detectives charged eight people with drug supply and nine people with possession.
Significant events include;
• About 4.40pm on Thursday 16 December 2021, officers stopped and searched a Toyota Corolla on Shelley Street, Sydney, locating $1650 cash, cocaine and a mobile phone. The driver – a 32-year-old Wiley Park man – was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug and deal with property proceeds of crime. He is due to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 13 January 2022. The passenger – a 41-year-old Green Point man – was allegedly found in possession of 2.3g of cocaine. He was issued a court attendance notice (CAN) for possess prohibited drug and is due to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday 4 February 2022.
• About 5.45pm on Thursday 16 December 2021, officers stopped and searched a Ford utility at Lime Street, Barangaroo, locating $1000 cash and two mobile phones. The driver – a 26-year-old Russell Lea man – was charged with supply prohibited drug and property proceeds of crime. He is due to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 13 January 2022. The passenger – a 32-year-old Wareemba man – was allegedly found in possession of 3g of cocaine. He was issued a CAN for possess prohibited drug and is due to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Friday 4 February 2022.
• About 3.20pm on Thursday 16 December 2021, police stopped and searched a Hyundai iLoad on Clarence Street, Sydney, where they located $650 in cash. The driver – a 43-year-old Forestville man – was issued a CAN for supply prohibited drug and deal with property proceeds of crime. He will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Friday 11 February 2022.
• About 6.30pm on Thursday 16 December 2021, officers stopped a Ford Ranger utility on Sussex Street, Sydney. Police searched the passenger and located two small bags containing cocaine. A further search of the driver and the vehicle resulted in six further clear resealable bags containing cocaine, a mobile phone and $2,500 cash located and seized. The driver – a 30-year-old Dundas man – was charged with supply prohibited drug and deal with property proceeds of crime. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 13 January 2021.
• About 2.45pm on Wednesday 22 December 2021, police stopped a Toyota Hilux utility on Erskine Street, Sydney and searched the driver and vehicle, locating $1,700 cash and cocaine. The driver, a 23-year-old man from Canley Vale, arrested and charged with supply prohibited drug, deal with property proceeds of crime and possess prohibited drug. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday 24 January 2022.
• About 8pm on Wednesday 22 December 2021, police patrolling Hickson Road, The Rocks, stopped and searched a Hyundai I30 hatchback, locating $550 cash, seven clear resealable bags containing cocaine, and a mobile phone. The 24-year-old Elizabeth Hills man was charged with supply prohibited drug (x2) and deal with property proceeds of crime. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday 24 January 2022.
• About 5.15pm on Thursday 23 December 2021, officers stopped a Toyota Corolla travelling along Shelley Street, Sydney. A search of the driver and vehicle resulted in the seizure of 13 clear resealable bags containing cocaine, two mobile phones and $1,800 cash. The 31-year-old Bossley Park man was charged with supply prohibited drug (x2) and deal with proceeds of crime and granted conditional bail, to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday 24 January 2022.
• About 6.50pm on Thursday 23 December 2021, officers stopped a Toyota Camry on Hickson Street, The Rocks. The driver and vehicle were searched with police seizing 5 bags of cocaine, $1,200 cash, and prescription medication including Antenex, diazepam, oxycontin and pregabalin. The 28-year-old Bankstown woman was charged with supply prohibited drug, deal with proceeds of crime, possess prohibited drug, possess prescribed restricted substance (x2). She was granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday 24 January 2022.
Since its inception in 2017, Strike Force Northrop investigators have seized more than 5.2kg of cocaine, 490g of MDMA, 1.1kg of cannabis, more than $1.17 million cash, and six firearms.
Investigations under Strike Force Northrop are ongoing.
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.
