Police arrest wanted Josiah Burton in Bondi drug bust

A cocaine, meth and ecstasy bust in Sydney’s eastern suburbs - resulting in two men arrested - netted an alleged drug manufacturer who police have wanted for almost two years. The pair have now appeared in court.

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A cocaine, meth and ecstasy bust in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has also netted an alleged drug manufacturer who police have wanted for almost two years.

Border agents in Sydney stopped a mail package from the US allegedly containing cocaine in February and Eastern Beaches police began investigating it with the help of detectives from Blacktown.

They arrested Josiah Burton, 32, and Edney McFarland, 29, in a car park in Curlewis St, Bondi Beach about 2.15pm on Wednesday and found 68.6g of methylamphetamine, six fraudulent identifications and $32,950 cash in the car.

Two men have been charged as part of a joint investigation into alleged importation of drugs. Picture: NSW Police

Later that day police raided Bellevue Hill terrace, where they seized 6kg of methylamphetamine, with an estimated street value of $4.5 million, 3kg of MDMA worth an estimated $165,000 on the street and a further $16,500 cash.

Burton was charged with five offences over this week’s bust, including importing marketable quantity of border-controlled drug and supply. But police also hit him with a 2018 warrant for manufacture a prohibited drug.

An officer emerges with two barrels. Pictures: NSW Police

Redfern detectives appealed for information to find Burton in July 2018 “over the alleged manufacturing of a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs” with an accompanying head-shot.

“He is described as being of caucasian appearance, approximately 165cm to 170cm tall, of medium build and has brown hair”.

Josiah Burton was arrested as part of the raid.

He faced Waverley Local Court over all his charges yesterday and did not apply for bail.

McFarland was charged with import marketable quantity of border-controlled drug and supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug in relation to this week’s bust and was also formally refused bail. Both men will face court again by AVL in the next two months.

The seizures made by police this week include boxes full of drug manufacturing equipment from a Bondi Beach garage.

A number of containers and other items were seized. Pictures: NSW Police

Police wearing gas masks and firefighter HAZMAT crews began hauling out chemicals and equipment yesterday and continue the search this morning.