30kg with a potential street value of around $15m seized so far this month as police target alleged bikies and importers
More than $15 million worth of meth has been removed from the street so far this month as police target outlaw bikie gangs and drug importers.
Police & Courts
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Police operations targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs and the importation of drugs have removed millions of dollars of methamphetamine from the streets of Adelaide this month.
Since April 1, the Serious and Organised Crime Branch have seized 30kg of methamphetamine with a street value of as much as $15m.
SA Police yesterday confirmed that three busts which netted 10kg of methamphetamine a piece were not related and were the product of separate investigations.
If sold wholesale the drugs were likely to be worth around $3m. However, the value of the haul on the streets is much higher with a kilogram of methamphetamine worth around $500,000 if sold in points at the street level.
On April 1, Kool Zeljko, 21, from Peterhead, and Jarad Everett-Quitadomo, 24, from Queenstown, were stopped in a car on the Princes Highway at Tailem Bend.
Police allege that within the car was 10kg of methamphetamine and a small amount of cocaine.
It is understood the drugs were bound for Adelaide and have been linked to the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang.
Both men were charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of methamphetamine.
Less than a week later, police raided a Hillcrest address and located a further 10kg of methamphetamine as well as cash, documents, stolen identification and clandestine laboratory equipment.
Mahmood Atem Noukabadi, 49, from Hillcrest, was arrested and charged with trafficking in a large commercial quantity of methamphetamine and using false identification to commit a serious crime.
Mr Noukabadi was initially granted home detention bail by the Adelaide Magistrates Court, but was rearrested on April 19 and charged with five counts of importing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine – a Commonwealth charge with a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Acting officer in charge of Serious and Organised Crime Brancgh Detective Chief Inspector David Huddy said the arrest was a result of multiple agencies working together to target individuals and syndicates importing large amounts of drugs.
On April 20, detectives from Crime Gangs Task Force raided multiple properties across Adelaide as part of an investigation into a member of the Descendants Motorcycle Gang.
A further 10kg of methamphetamine was seized along with cash, fantasy and cannabis as well as nine vehicles.
Daniel Saleh, 43, from Paralowie was charged over the 10kg methamphetamine bust as well as cannabis and methamphetamine seized in a raid in October 2022.
Jayy Venables, 31, from Para Hills, was charged with trafficking commercial methamphetamine and large commercial cannabis over the raid in October last year.
Jake Lee Neil MacKenzie, 28, Salisbury Heights was charged with trafficking large commercial quantities of cannabis and methamphetamine.
He was also charged with domestic violence offences.
Jamie Wing, 34, from Burton, was charged also charged with trafficking large commercial cannabis and methamphetamine from raids in both 2022 and Thursday.
Frederico Louis Da Silva was charged with trafficking methamphetamine. He was remanded in custody following an appearance in the Adelaide Magistrates Court.
A sixth man, who will soon go to trial on similar offending was charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity and commercial quantity of methamphetamine.
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