Two IT whizzes charged with alleged massive ‘dial-a-dealer’ cocaine syndicates
TWO successful tech whizzes are the latest people to be charged in connection to the alleged massive “dial-a-dealer” cocaine syndicates supplying drugs across Sydney.
NSW
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TWO successful tech whizzes are the latest people to be charged in connection with alleged massive “dial-a-dealer” cocaine syndicates supplying drugs across Sydney.
Alli Atmar and Ashkan Rafiq, who worked at IT consultants GlobalX in the CBD, are among 39 people arrested as part of Strike Force Northrop.
Last Friday police revealed they had smashed the cocaine operations which allowed customers to simply send a text message to have drugs supplied.
The arrests were the culmination of a two-month sting in which police targeted the alleged syndicates that are believed to have used a central phone number to direct users to convenient drug drop locations.
Police seized 2000 phone numbers from the contact lists of the suspected dealers and flooded the customers with messages urging them to contact officers.
The message read “This ph no has been ID’d as part of a NSWPF cocaine investigation in the Sydney area. If you have any information please contact Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000”.
Police confirmed dozens of people contacted the authorities within minutes of the message being sent.
Police announced on Friday they had seized almost 500g of cocaine, two loaded guns and $120,000 in cash.
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Officers yesterday charged 28-year-old Atmar and his 41-year-old colleague Rafiq. The pair were sacked by GlobalX last week when their arrests were followed by officers arriving with a search warrant at the city firm, which sells software to lawyers.
A GlobalX spokesman said the company had no knowledge of the men’s alleged activities, had terminated their employment and was co-operating with police.
Police also raided another CBD location and a Double Bay property connected to the men, seizing $20,000 in cash, high-end watches, prescription drugs, financial documents and electronic devices.
Atmar and Rafiq have both been charged with supply offences and dealing in proceeds of crime.
They have been granted conditional bail to face Central Local Court this week.
One-time NRL hopeful Ben Darcy is facing eight charges over his role in one of the dial-in drug services, which was allegedly used to funnel cocaine into the ritzy suburbs of Paddington and Woollahra. He was arrested on November 25, when police found $30,000 in a property in Underwood St at Paddington, and charged with multiple drug offences to face Downing Centre Court next month.