Sydney drug ring: Six men arrested as $120k in cash, $300k in designer goods seized

Six men have been charged over a massive interstate cannabis trafficking ring, with police warning that cannabis is ‘the rocket fuel of organised crime’.

He had Balenciaga joggers, Cartier jewellery and views of the cityscape from his luxe penthouse.

Now Saadedine Abou Chanab is staring at the blank walls of a police cell after being swept up in an organised crime sting. 

Police arrest one of the six men. Picture: NSW Police

Some of the cash seized by police.

The haul also included designer goods.

The 27-year-old was arrested on Friday as Strike Force Raptor officers swept through his Sydney apartment as part of an investigation into a drug supply ring operating across three states. The investigation was focused on the trafficking of cannabis from Vic­toria to Queensland via NSW. 

Earlier this year, police ­uncovered 127kg of cannabis in a truck in the Southern Highlands and $4.5 million worth of drugs in Queensland. While cannabis may seem like the less sexy cousin of a hard drug like cocaine, police say it is just as lucrative. 

“It is the jet fuel of organised crime,” Strike Force Raptor commander Detective Superintendent Jason Weinstein said. 

“It’s one of the most widely used drugs in Australia and the profitability allows organised crime to generate significant income to fund the importation of other drugs from overseas.”

On Friday police closed in on the alleged senior syndicate members. 

During raids on two apartments on Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont and a penthouse in Clarence St, police seized $120,000 of cash, 110g of cocaine, and $300,000 worth of designer goods that included Gucci and Dior handbags, a Car­tier watch, Hermes wallet and 26 pairs of designer shoes.

Police suspect the other Pirrama Rd apartment was used as a safe house, with $120,000 in cash and a money counting machine found inside.

Abou Chanab was charged with drug supply and dealing with proceeds of crime. 

Six people have been charged in total during the investigation.