Media accompanying the police on drug raids?
Seven arrested, clan lab discovered and more than 17 kg of meth seized as Organised Crime Squad investigation concludes
Friday, 15 May 2015 09:17:36 AM
Organised Crime Squad detectives have seized approximately 17 kilograms of methylamphetamine, arrested seven men and shut down an active clandestine laboratory following an operation in Sydney yesterday (Thursday 14 May 2015).
It was all part of Strike Force Sylvia, a long-running investigation by the Organised Crime Squad in conjunction with the NSW Crime Commission into money laundering offences and the commercial supply of ‘Ice’ (crystal methylamphetamine).
Early yesterday afternoon, officers arrested five men during a covert operation in a carpark at Zetland, seizing two kilograms of ‘Ice’ and four encrypted mobile devices.
The five men – a 31-year-old, a 23-year-old, a 22-year-old and two 21-year-olds – were taken to Surry Hills Police Station and charged with offences relating to large commercial drug supply and participating in a criminal group. All were bail refused to appear in Central Local Court today (Friday 15 May 2015).
Following the arrests at Zetland, five search warrants were executed at properties in Zetland (two properties), Pyrmont and Ryde (two properties), with an active clandestine drug laboratory located at one of the Ryde properties – a residential unit.
The property is now being processed by specialist officers from the Drug Squad’s Chemical Operation Team who have located approximately 10 kilograms of ‘Ice’ and five kilograms of methylamphetamine oil, in addition to more than 40 kilograms of restricted pre-cursor chemicals and a comprehensive arrangement of scientific equipment.
A 23-year-old man was arrested near the Ryde unit where the clan lab was located, while a 29-year-old man was arrested at the other Ryde property.
Both were charged with offences relating to commercial drug supply and participating in a criminal group, before being refused bail to appear before Hornsby Local Court today.
Yesterday’s search warrants also resulted in police seizing a further 12 encrypted mobile devices, cash, sim-cards and computers.
Strike Force Sylvia was established in early 2014 to investigate money laundering by transnational criminal networks impacting NSW, with a focus on the facilitators who enable organised crime activities to function.
Prior to yesterday’s operation, nine people had been arrested for serious money laundering offences, drug offences and some Commonwealth offences, and strike force officers had seized 1.5kg of ‘Ice’, small amounts of MDMA, ephedrine, ethylone and cannabis, and more than $700,000 cash.
The total results for Strike Force Sylvia include:
- 18.5 kilograms of methylamphetamine seized, with an estimated potential street value of $18.5 million;
- 16 people arrested;
- More than 40 kilograms of pre-cursor chemicals seized;
- More than $700,000 cash seized; and,
- More than 50 encrypted mobile devices seized.
Commander of the Organised Crime Squad, Detective Superintendent Scott Cook, said today’s operation brought to an end the investigations undertaken by Strike Force Sylvia.
“I would like to congratulate all of the police involved in SF Sylvia for their hard work and commitment,” Detective Superintendent Cook said.
“Officers from State Crime Command, four different local area commands, and specialist areas came together yesterday to resolve this long running investigation. The operations undertaken were seamless, safe and effective.”
Detective Superintendent Cook added that Strike Force Sylvia had not only been very successful in terms of the results it attained, it had also provided detectives with numerous insights into the complex systems and structures set up by organised criminals to hide and protect their black-market businesses and assets.
“The investigation has been highly successful in dismantling a criminal network that we will allege was involved in the manufacture of ‘Ice’, the trafficking of ‘Ice’, the laundering of money and the facilitation of organised crime,” Detective Superintendent Cook said.
“Following previous investigations by the Organised Crime Squad, which focused on large scale drug and precursor importation, Strike Force Sylvia was established to investigate those behind the scenes involved in organising and facilitating the criminal activity. The focus on money laundering enabled us to pick apart the network and take action against people for their different roles in the network.
“We have learnt a lot about money laundering through this investigation; it has highlighted the crucial role played by facilitators such as accountants, the role of modern communications, and the misuse of company structures.
“We have seen people attempt to carry hundreds of thousands of dollars cash in suitcases out of Australia; we have seen the proceeds of crime dispersed by accountants through company structures; we have seen proceeds of crime sent off shore through trade-based laundering schemes; and we have seen the extensive use of money remitters.
“The investigation has also highlighted how encrypted communications are being used and how the communications accounts are managed by crucial individuals assisting criminal networks.
“We are in a far better position to target money laundering offences now than 12 months ago, and are now better placed to impact and degrade the functioning of organised crime networks.
“The Organised Crime Squad will continue its work together with the NSW Crime Commission to strip the criminally acquired assets from people involved in organised crime activities such as these.”
Police are urging anyone with information in relation to organised crime to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
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