Seven arrested, more than 100kg of ‘ice’ seized – Organised Crime Squad
Wednesday, 02 December 2015 12:36:35 PM
Seven men have been arrested and Organised Crime Squad detectives have seized more than 100kg of ‘ice’, some of which was secreted within flat-pack furniture.
State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad established Strike Force Maize in October this year to investigate the large commercial supply of methylamphetamine (‘ice’) and associated money laundering offences.
Late on Tuesday (1 December 2015), Strike Force Maize detectives executed six search warrants at properties in Fairfield, Parramatta, Burwood and Wentworthville.
They were assisted by the Public Order and Riot Squad, the Gangs Squad’s Strike Force Raptor and the Drug Squad’s Chemical Operations Team.
An estimated 129kg of methylamphetamine in various stages of manufacture was seized, including more than 80kg that was still in the process of being extracted from pieces of flat-pack furniture. Police also seized more than $70,000 cash.
Seven men aged from 23 to 69 who are Malaysian and Hong Kong nationals were arrested and charged with various offences, including manufacture prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug, participate in criminal group.
They were all refused bail to appear at courts in Burwood, Parramatta, Fairfield and St George today.
An additional search warrant is currently underway at St Marys.
Investigations into the crime network and the origin of the drugs are continuing.
Commander of the Organised Crime Squad, Detective Superintendent Scott Cook, said the importation and trafficking of ‘ice’ had a devastating effect on many communities in Australia.
“We will continue to work with our partners to catch those responsible for pedalling this miserable poison to our children,” Det Supt Cook said.
“The NSW Police Force Organised Crime Squad will continue to focus its attention of the operations of transnational organised crime networks responsible for the importation and distribution of ‘ice’ and other illicit commodities impacting NSW.
“I would like to congratulate the members of the Organised Crime Squad for their hard work and dedication which has led to the downfall of this criminal network in NSW.
“This is a significant result for the community but there is still more to do; this network is highly sophisticated, compartmentalised and operating internationally.”
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