50,000 ‘dial-a-dealer’ customers to be contacted by NSW Police after drug runner phone busts

A Strike Force has shut down 26 alleged drug runner phone numbers used in millions of dollars’ worth of deals and connected to more than 50,000 customers.

NSW Police have shut down 26 alleged drug runner phone numbers with links to organised criminal networks and connected to more than 50,000 customers.

Strike Force Wessex was launched last April to investigate alleged criminal groups involved in drug supply using drug run or ‘dial-a-dealer’ phones across Sydney.

Police will allege some of the phone numbers – who were known to their contacts only by names such as ‘Dior, ‘Tommy’ and ‘Ricky’ – have been in operation for up to 10 years

An integral part of the investigation was to shut down retailers allegedly supplying fraudulent SIM cards before taking out the dealers.

In December, strike force detectives executed a search warrant at a mobile phone retail store on Chapel Road South in Bankstown.

During a search of the property detectives located hundreds of fraudulent subscribed SIM cards and $60,000 cash.

Several phones were seized and numbers shut down by police officers. Picture: NSW Police

A 71-year-old woman was arrested and charged with two counts of dealing with proceeds of crime.

She was granted conditional bail and appeared in Bankstown Local Court on January 11.

A number of men will face court following the police raids. Picture: NSW Police

In January 2023, police searched a convenience store on Miller Road in Bass Hill, where detectives located a number of SIM cards and approximately $58,000 cash.

A 53-year-old man was arrested and charged with two counts of dealing with property proceeds of crime and two counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.

He was granted conditional bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on April 2.

Detectives then worked to identify and recover some of the drug-run phones from several alleged dealers.

Many of the accused remain before the courts. Picture: NSW Police

Police shut down dozens of 'dial-a-dealer' phones. Picture: NSW Police

Last month strike force detectives executed a search warrant in Guildford where they arrested two men, 50 and 19.

During their search police located multiple mobile phones, approximately $3700 in cash, a baton and two gel blasters.

Both men were refused bail and appeared in Parramatta Local Court the next day on February 8.

On February 20, detectives with the assistance of Raptor Squad, executed a search warrant in Cartwright, where they seized mobile phones and three SIM cards.

Weapons were also located during the raids. Picture: NSW Police

Just after 8am the same day, detectives executed a second warrant in Granville where they seized additional phones and approximately $96,000.

On February 27, strike force detectives executed a search warrant in Northmead where they located and seized two phones.

A 29-year-old man was arrested and charged with breach of bail.

He appeared in Parramatta Local Court the same day.

Illicit substances seized by police. Picture: NSW Police

A 25-year-old woman was also arrested and charged with common assault and assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm.

She was granted conditional bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on March 26.

Eight phones were physically seized and a total of 26 phone numbers were identified as being used by alleged criminal syndicate members to run drugs, with a combined potential customer database of 50,000 people.

Police have used this technology to dismantle criminal syndicates and their activities. Picture: NSW Police

With the assistance from the Forensic Evidence & Technical Services Command and various telecommunication networks, as of Thursday, all 26 of those phone numbers have been shut down.

Before the phone numbers were disabled, approximately 50,000 identified contacts of the phone numbers were sent a text message to alert them to the fact their number was linked to an alleged drug-running phone.

Police will allege some of the phone numbers – who were known to their contacts only by names such as ‘Dior, ‘Tommy’ and ‘Ricky’ – have been in operation for up to 10 years. Picture: NSW Police

The text message to customers read, “The NSW Police Force: Strike Force Wessex has identified this number engaging with an organised crime drug supply ‘dial-a-dealer’ phone. If this continues you may be subject to further investigation. Cease all contact now.”

Detective Superintendent Grant Taylor said this was one of the first times police have used this technology to dismantle criminal syndicates and their activities.

“Exploiting new technological capabilities, and using our relationship with various Australian telecommunication companies, we’ve been able to shut down these phones that were running up to millions of dollars’ worth of drugs per week – anything from cannabis to cocaine to ice,” Det Supt Taylor said.

“But phase one was just the beginning. Now we’ve disrupted the dealers’ direct line to their customers, we can turn our attention to those at the top – the criminal syndicate controlling these phones and we’ll be coming after them next.”

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