Two men will face court today charged with large commercial drug supply after the Organised Crime Squad seized more than $450,000 worth of drugs and $250,000 cash.
In September 2018, detectives from the State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad and officers from the NSW Crime Commission established Strike Force Burrebury to investigate the supply of illicit drugs across Sydney.
During the course of the investigation, police seized 8500 tabs of lysergic acid (LSD).
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a 30-year-old man on Wright Street, Hurstville, about 9.20am yesterday (Tuesday 22 January 2019).
Police will allege in court that the man was at the location to supply 2000 LSD tabs.
A short time later, investigators arrested a 25-year-old man at a business on Coal Pier Road, Banksmeadow.
The older man was taken to St George Police Station and the younger man was taken to Mascot Police Station.
About 10.30am, strike force detectives executed search warrants at homes at Carlton and Ashfield, where they seized cannabis, 3,4-Methylenedioxy?methamphetamine (MDMA), magic mushrooms, ketamine, cocaine, methylamphetamine (ice), Xanax tablets, LSD and more than $250,000 cash.
The total estimated potential street value of the drugs seized throughout the investigation is more than $460,000.
The 30-year-old Carlton man was charged with six counts of large commercial drug supply, two counts of commercial drug supply, three counts of indicatable drug supply, and deal with proceeds of crime.
He has been refused bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court today (Wednesday 23 January 2019).
The 25-year-old Ashfield man was charged with three counts of large commercial drug supply and indicatable drug supply.
He has been refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today.
Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Tony Cooke, said the variety and quantities of illicit drugs seized was of concern to police.
"While we are pleased with yesterday's result, we know the community still has a long way to go in addressing the issue of demand," Det Supt Cooke said.
"The Organised Crime Squad and the entire NSW Police Force is focused on working with our partners – both in Australia and abroad – on targeting the criminal networks who import, manufacture, and supply these poisons for profit.
"And that's an important point; illicit drugs are poison. Each of the substances we seized has potential to kill – and when mixed together in any combination, the risk of death increases dramatically.
"As a community, we need to band together to break the cycle of addiction and change the perception of 'safe' use or 'party' drugs – neither of these descriptions are even close to the truth.
"In actual fact, these myths were created by those who are peddling the drugs and profiting from users' misery," Det Supt Cooke said.
Anyone with information in relation to the importation, manufacture, and supply of prohibited drugs is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
