Sydney drugs: 16 charged, MDMA seized in eastern suburbs bust
Sixteen people have been charged after a massive drug operation across Sydney allegedly led police to a haul of cash, weapons and commercial drug supply including 3kg of MDMA.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Sydney Water ‘sorry’ as second Sydney sinkhole opens
- ‘Evil walks among us’ as Lollipop’s CCTV holds few clues
A safety deposit box stuffed with $300,000, magic mushrooms and weapons were among items allegedly seized by police as part a major investigation into drug supply across Sydney.
Sixteen alleged mid-level drug dealers have been charged after police searched 11 properties on Wednesday as part of the investigation.
Police allegedly seized 3kg of MDMA, nearly 400g of cocaine, 654g of ketamine, 323g of cannabis, 188 LSD tabs, nearly 290g of magic mushrooms and 37ml of GBL.
A pistol, sawn-off shotgun and $627,400 in cash were also allegedly found after police searched the properties in Bondi Beach, North Bondi, Maroubra, Chippendale, Randwick, Sydney CBD, Alexandria, Darlington, Earlwood, Balgowlah and Pennant Hills.
MORE NEWS
‘Residents need to know this is not an Opal Tower’
Revealed: NSW suburbs relying most heavily on JobKeeper
Could mandatory masks be next for Sydney?
Yesterday, police arrested 16 people – 13 men and three women – during the operation. They have been charged with a slew of drug offences.
Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bell from the Redfern Region Enforcement Squad said significant police resources were deployed during the operation.
Det Chief Insp Bell said one of the largest alleged finds during Wednesday’s search was in a “safe house” — a rented garage on Hall St, Bondi.
“That had $189,000 in cash and they also had a vault in a bank in the city which had another $289,000 in cash in it,” Detective Chief Inspector Bell said.
The Daily Telegraph understands $289,000 cash was also found in a Guardian Vaults safe deposit box on Castlereagh St.
“It was predominantly a MDMA investigation, and the cocaine was found as part of the investigation,” he said.
“It should have a significant impact on drug supply in the Eastern Suburbs area … the supply of any drug is a big issue, cocaine is predominantly one of the drugs renowned in this area but on this occasion … they were growing mushrooms, LSD.”
All of the alleged dealers arrested yesterday were known to each other, police said.
Redfern RES officers have now charged 16 people following the investigation across Sydney including a 37-year-old Bondi man, who is facing 17 charges including supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and a 40-year-old North Bondi man, who is facing 21 charges for drug offences and will appear at Waverley Court today.
Two 20-year-old men arrested at the same Randwick home are facing drug charges, and two further men from the house — aged 20 and 21 — were issued court attendance notices.
Three men, aged 33, 41 and 43, were arrested at Maroubra. Two were charged with drug offences, and the 43-year is facing multiple firearms charges.
Also facing the courts for drug charges is three women, two aged 46 and 58 from Earlwood and a 32-year-old who was arrested near Balgowlah.
A 29-year-old from Chippendale and a 39-year-old from Alexandria are also facing drug charges.