More than 150 fresh charges have been laid after the raids on six properties across Adelaide. The searches uncovered eight firearms, about 300ml of the drug fantasy and small amounts of cannabis and steroids.
Police said the arrests stem from a continued review of communications on the encrypted AN0M app which was secretly being monitored by law enforcement authorities.
Among those arrested include two men who are charged with multiple offences including false imprisonment and aggravated assault causing harm over an incident in April 2019.
They were expected to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday. The remainder of the men – most of whom are charged with serious drug and money laundering offences – are expected to appear in court on Thursday.
One man has been charged with 32 offences.
The first wave of Operation Ironside arrests occurred one June 7 with the arrest of more than 40 people in SA.
Detective Chief Inspector Darren Fielke said investigators were continuing to analyse large volumes of messages sent via AN0M.
“This work has uncovered evidence of additional offending including large commercial drug trafficking and manufacture and money laundering and has resulted in a number of arrests,” he said.
He said Operation Ironside was conitinuing, with more arrests expected as further evidence is uncovered.
“Those individuals who used the AN0M platform to engage in criminal behaviour should not be so comfortable to thin that they have avoided being arrested and brought to account,” he said.
SECOND WAVE OF OPERATION IRONSIDE ARRESTS
Police have arrested a further 18 people in connection with Operation Ironside, from November 30.
- A 31-year-old from Para Hills was charged with false imprisonment, two counts of aggravated assault causing harm and aggravated robbery.
- A 35-year-old from Magill was charged with false imprisonment, aggravated assault causing serious harm, four counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drugs (methamphetamine) and two counts of money laundering.
- A 34-year-old from Magill was charged with four counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drugs (methamphetamine) and two counts of money laundering.
- A 30-year-old from Mount Barker was charged with two counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drugs (methamphetamine).
- A 33-year-old from Ridleyton was charged with two counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drugs (methamphetamine).
- A 50-year-old from Salisbury Plain was charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drugs (methamphetamine) and two counts of money laundering.
- A 29-year-old from Clovelly Park was charged with three counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drugs, trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drug, trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drug (methamphetamine), trafficking a controlled drug (cocaine), trafficking a controlled drug (methamphetamine).
- A 50-year-old from Seaton was charged with seven counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drug (methamphetamine), trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drug, trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drug, two counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drug (MDMA), three counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drug (cocaine), trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drug (MDMA), trafficking a controlled drug (MDMA) and trafficking a quantity of controlled drug (cocaine)
- A 36-year-old from Two Wells was charged with five counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drug (MDMA), manufacture large commercial quantity of controlled drug (MDMA), trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drug (cannabis).
- A 30-year-old from Elizabeth Downs was charged with two counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drug (cocaine), two counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drug (cocaine), two counts of trafficking a controlled drug (MDMA), two counts of trafficking a controlled drug (cocaine).
- A 57-year-old from Broadview was charged with five counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drug (methamphetamine), two counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drug (methamphetamine), trafficking a controlled drug (methamphetamine).
- A 33-year-old from Lewiston was charged with seven counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drugs (methamphetamine), four counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drugs (methamphetamine) and two counts of trafficking a controlled drug (methamphetamine).
- A 55-year-old from Semaphore Park was charged with six counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drugs (methamphetamine) and ten counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drugs (methamphetamine).
- A 43-year-old from Hallett Cove was charged with three counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drugs (methamphetamine), four counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drugs (methamphetamine), 13 counts of trafficking a controlled drug (methamphetamine) and six counts of money laundering.
- A 45-year-old from Hackham was charged with ten counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of controlled drugs (methamphetamine), seven counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drugs (methamphetamine), 12 counts of trafficking a controlled drug (methamphetamine / MDMA) and three counts of money laundering.
- A 41-year-old from Burton was charged with four counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drug (methamphetamine) and trafficking a controlled drug (methamphetamine).
- A 36-year-old from Cowandilla was charged with two counts of trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug (methamphetamine).
- A 40-year-old from Hendon was charged with breach of bail.
