NSW Police Organised Crime Squad detectives have charged five men as part of an investigation into a transnational syndicate who allegedly imported 30 kilograms of ketamine into Australia.
Strike Force Lupin is a joint investigation between the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission to investigate the criminality of transnational Organised Crime Networks (OCNs) hailing from south-east Asia.
Detective Superintendent Peter Faux said transnational crime transcends borders, which is why state jurisdictions need to work together.
“Our partnerships allow us to strike at these networks in ways no single agency could. By combining our reach, we’re not just arresting individuals, we’re dismantling the business model that keeps transnational crime alive,” said Det Supt Faux.
On Wednesday, 18 February, a shipment sent from England and falsely declared as ‘car parts’ arrived in Melbourne allegedly carrying 30kgs of ketamine.
Detectives will allege a 54-year-old man travelled from England to receive the consignment and took possession of it on Thursday 26 February.
Two days later, Police say the 54-year-old man travelled to Canberra with the consignment, where he met with two other men who allegedly collected the 30kgs of ketamine and took it to an address in Stanhope Gardens in NSW.
The 54-year-old returned to Melbourne, where – with assistance from Victoria Police – he was arrested at an address in Mentone late last week. The man appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court the same day, where an application was made for his extradition the next morning.
On his arrival in Sydney, the man was taken to Mascot Police Station, where he was charged with import commercial quantity of border controlled drug and traffic in commercial quantity of controlled drug.
Following further extensive inquiries, at around 7.50am yesterday, strike force detectives arrested a 30-year-old man in Stanhope Gardens. He was taken to Riverstone Police Station, where he was charged with supply prohibited drug >= large commercial quantity and knowingly direct activities of criminal group. The man was refused bail and appeared in Blacktown Local Court yesterday, where he was formally refused bail to appear in Penrith Local Court on Friday 15 May.
Police also arrested a 29-year-old man in Blacktown. He was taken to Riverstone Police Station, where he was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Blacktown Local Court on Monday 13 April.
A 30-year-old man was also arrested in Dee Why. He was taken to Manly Police Station, where he was charged with supply prohibited drug >= large commercial quantity and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity. He was refused bail and appeared in Manly Local Court yesterday, where he was formally refused bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday 12 May.
A 37-year-old man from Lidcombe was charged with supply prohibited drug >= large commercial quantity and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity. He was refused bail and appeared in Burwood Local Court yesterday, where he was formally refused bail to appear in the same court on Wednesday 13 May.
