Arrests made in Cherrybrook, Double Bay drug and gun raids

A day spa in one of Sydney’s most exclusive retail addresses was used to traffic guns by a crime syndicate run by a 77-year-old man and his wife, according to NSW Police.

A day spa in one of Sydney’s most exclusive retail addresses was used to traffic guns according to NSW Police.

Police allege Tel Langi, a worker at Trump Spa in Cross Street Double Bay, was involved in a crime syndicate run by 77-year-old David Shen and his wife Lien Ngoc.

“The business was not involved directly in the syndicate,” said Detective Superintendent John Watson, head of the NSW Drug and Firearms Unit.

Police raided the Trump Spa located inside the Intercontinental, Double Bay today. Picture: John Grainger

“But we allege an individual linked to the premises was part of the syndicate,” he said.

Two firearm cases were found during a search by police at the spa today which is located in the Intercontinental Hotel in Double Bay.

A Sydney husband and wife have been arrested in a major drug and firearm operation. Picture: NSW Police

Police said they seized 14 weapons, all handguns worth more than $200,000 which ranged from antique weapons to military grade pistols.

“There is no doubt in our minds these weapons were destined for the black market,” Detective Watson said.

“NSW is a safer place for having them off the streets,” he said.

NSW Police worked with their counterparts from Western Australia where its alleged the guns were originally sourced.

It’s also alleged the criminal group was involved in the production of the drug ice.

Police seized 14 weapons during the raids this morning. Picture: NSW Police

They are now convinced they have smashed the alleged drug and firearms crime syndicate they claim was run by David Shen, who was arrested with his 42-year wife at Cherrybrook Brook in Sydney’s Hills district during dawn raids today.

“This syndicate has been completely dismantled,” Detective Watson said.

Tel Langi, 41, was arrested at a West Guilford address.

A strikeforce was set up by the NSW Drugs and Firearms squad in May 2020 to look into the selling of illegal firearms across Sydney and was assisted by police from Western Australia.

A firearm seized during the operation targeting a criminal syndicate selling illegal firearms. Picture: NSW Police

Police allege during their investigation into the supply of weapons in Sydney it discovered the criminal group was involved in a clandestine laboratory found at Camperdown in April last year.

Officers dismantled the lab and seized 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine (ice).

Shen, Ngoc, and Langi are all expected to face court tomorrow.

David Shen used to live in a luxury penthouse in Darling Point before he was arrested for a massive cocaine and ecstasy drug importation in 2006 and was only released in 2014.