NSW Police Organised Crime Squad detectives have seized firearms and 415kg of illicit drugs, and charged three men as part of an investigation into a transnational Organised Criminal Network under Strike Force Barberton.
The strike force was established by State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs across NSW by a group coordinated by a broader transnational network believed to be run out of South-East Asia.
Following extensive investigations into the group, this week strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad and the Public Order and Riot Squad – executed five search warrants at alleged safe houses in Mays Hill, Bankstown, Campsie and Bonnyrigg Heights.
During the searches, officers located and seized 415kg of prohibited drugs, three pistol firearms, more than 300 rounds of ammunition, $450,000 in cash, and a ballistic vest.
The drug seizure included 287kg of methylamphetamine, 47kg of cocaine, 81kg of heroin, and 838g of MDMA, with a combined street value of $260 million. An additional 20kg haul of precursor chemicals was also seized.
Detectives arrested two men, aged 26 and 19, at the Mays Hills address. They were taken to Granville Police Station, where they were charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug >= large commercial quantity and participate criminal group contribute criminal.
Police arrested a third man, aged 26, in Bonnyrigg Heights. He was taken to Cabramatta Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug >= large commercial quantity and deal with property proceeds of crime < $100000 & < $5000.
He was granted conditional bail to appear in Fairfield Local Court on Thursday 27 November.
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into organised criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
