Operation Vitreus: $33m worth of drugs, 332 people arrested after raids across Bankstown, St George, Rhodes, Wetherill Park

A major police operation has led to more than $33m worth of drugs seized and 332 arrests made as a number of homes were raided across the state.

More than $33m worth of drugs have been seized and 332 arrests made across NSW as part of a major crackdown on drug supply and organised criminal activity.

Multiple properties were raided and a clandestine drug lab uncovered between September 11 and 15 as part of Operation Vitreus, a joint initiative between all Australian state and territory police agencies, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, AUSTRAC, Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

Over the course of the week, police across the country made 979 arrests, laid 2006 charges, executed 388 search warrants, and seized 1.2 tonnes of drugs with an estimated street value of $475m.

In NSW alone, the operation – led by State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad – there were 332 arrests, 441 charges laid, 93 search warrants executed and more than $33m worth of drugs seized.

Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, said Operation Vitreus was a great example of NSW Police working closely with partner agencies to keep harmful drugs off the streets.

“The statistics – 1.2 tonnes of drugs seized across the country – show just how successful this operation was, but it also gives a snapshot into how real the problem is,” he said.

“While this week of action is over, we remain committed to working alongside our partner agencies in the fight against drugs – and our ability to pool intelligence and resources like this should make criminal groups very nervous.”

See some of the major busts below:

RAIDS ACROSS BANKSTOWN, GRANVILLE AND BELFIELD

On September 11 and 12, officers attached to Bankstown Police Area Command executed four search warrants at properties across Granville, Belfield and Bankstown where they located and seized 523 cannabis plants and 25kg of dried cannabis leaves.

The drugs were estimated to have a street value of approximately $1.5m, and police also found as $194,490 in cash.

Two women, aged 49 and 25, and three men, aged 27 and two aged 26, were taken to Bankstown Police Station.

The two women and the older man were charged with eight serious drug supply and criminal group related offences, while the two younger men were charged with five offences each.

They were all refused bail and appeared before Bankstown Local Court on September 13.

INVESTIGATION INTO DIAL—A—DEALER SYNDICATE

About 6.35am on September 14, officers attached to St George Police Area Command – with assistance from Raptor Squad and the Dog Squad – executed simultaneous search warrants in Georges Hall, Chester Hill, Smithfield, Bankstown, Greenacre and Earlwood as part of an ongoing investigation into a dial-a-dealer syndicate under Strike Force Vaxit.

During the searches, police seized about 2kg of cocaine, about $168,470 in cash, 20L of suspected GBL, a revolver firearm, eight vehicles, stolen registration plates and items consistent with the manufacture of drugs.

Five people were subsequently arrested – four men aged 24, 19, 26 and 44 – as well as a 31-year-old woman.

They were charged with a number of drug supply, firearm and criminal group related offences and all refused bail.

The 31 and 26-year-old appeared in Fairfield and Bankstown Local Court the same day, while the 24 and 44-year-old men appeared before Bankstown Local Court on September 15, and the 19-year-old appeared at Sutherland Local Court.

CLANDESTINE LABORATORY UNCOVERED IN MORTDALE

On September 13, officers attached to the Organised Crime Squad executed a search warrant at Mortdale, where they located a clandestine laboratory.

Assistance was sought from the Drug and Firearms Squad Chemical Operations Unit, Forensic Evidence and Technical Services, and NSW Fire and Rescue HAZMAT teams to process the lab.

At the scene, police seized more than 200 items including about 45kg of MDMA, 1.2kg methylamphetamine and other chemicals.

Following further inquiries, about 9.10am on September 15, a search warrant was executed at a storage unit in Kirrawee where another lab was located and awaits processing. Investigations are ongoing.

RAIDS AT STORAGE FACILITIES IN RHODES AND WETHERILL PARK

On September 12, officers attached to the Organised Crime Squad executed two search warrants at storage facilities in Rhodes and Wetherill Park under Strike Force Mactier.

About 9.30pm the next day, strike force detectives – with assistance from the Public Order and Riot Squad – executed a search warrant at Auburn where they arrested a 25-year-old man.

During the searches, officers located concealments of 256kg worth of hypophosphorous acid, 80kg of iodine, 1.9kg of MDMA, ice, $73,950 in cash, and two vehicles. The man was taken to Auburn Police Station, where he was charged with supply prohibited drug >= commercial quantity, deal with property proceeds of crime

He was refused bail and appeared in Burwood Local Court on September 14. Investigations are ongoing.