Two men have been charged by Organised Crime Squad detectives after they dismantled a clandestine laboratory and seized more than $6 million of prohibited drugs including heroin, methylamphetamine, and cocaine in Sydney’s southwest.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad established Strike Force Cripe to investigate a criminal syndicate involved in the manufacture and supply of prohibited drugs across NSW.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives executed a search warrant at a property in Belmore at about 8.40 am last Wednesday (10 August 2022), subsequently locating a clandestine laboratory within the premises.
A crime scene was established, and the lab was subsequently examined and dismantled with the assistance of the Drug and Firearms Squad’s Chemical Operations Team over the following days.
Prohibited drugs – including more than 5kg of methamphetamine, 1.8kg of heroin, 70g of cocaine, and literstres of methamphetamine oil – as well as items consistent with the manufacture and supply of prohibited drugs were seized for further forensic examination.
About the same time, a 39-year-old man was arrested with the assistance of Raptor Squad officers during a related search warrant at a home in Campsie.
He was taken to Campsie Police Station and charged with manufacturing prohibited drugs more than the commercial quantity, supplying prohibited drugs more than the commercial quantity, recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime of more than $5,000, and supplying prohibited drugs more than the indictable amount.
He appeared at Bankstown Local Court the following day, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on Thursday 13 October 2022.
As part of ongoing investigations, detectives from Coffs-Clarence Police District stopped a Honda travelingling north on the Pacific Highway near Urunga about midday on Saturday (13 August 2022).
During a subsequent search of the car, police allegedly located and seized 45kg of cannabis which was concealed within duffle bags.
The driver – a 30-year-old Warwick Farm man – was arrested and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station.
A further 2.5kg of cannabis and $4,500 cash were located during a search warrant of the man’s property at Warwick Farm later that day.
He’s since been charged with supplying prohibited drugs more than the commercial quantity, supplying prohibited drugs more than the indictable amount, and an outstanding warrant.
He appeared at Port Macquarie Bail Court the following day, where he was formally refused bail to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court today (Tuesday 16 August 2022).
Investigations under Strike Force Cripe continue.