Olympic swimmer Scott Miller arrested in Sydney ice syndicate drug bust

Police will allege Olympian Scott Miller “called the shots” in a $2.2 million ice syndicate where drugs were stashed in candles.

Olympic medallist Scott Miller “called the shots” in a $2.2 million ice syndicate allegedly supplying drugs to regional NSW inside candles, according to police.

Former swimmer Miller, 45, was arrested during a raid at his Rozelle unit this morning after a month-long investigation by police into ice supply to regional NSW.

Olympic swimmer Scott Miller during a police raid on his home this morning. Picture NSW Police

Former swimming champion Miller, 45, was arrested after a month-long investigation. Picture: NSW Police

The arrests came after police uncovered eight candles with four kilograms or $2.2 million worth of “high purity” ice hidden inside them.

Miller was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity), knowingly direct criminal group and dealing with the proceeds of crime on Monday afternoon. He chose not to appear when his matter was heard in Newtown Local Court later on Monday, and solicitor Hugh Salter did apply for bail on Miller’s behalf. He will remain behind bars on remand.

Magistrate Michael Antrum refused bail and ruled Miller be remanded in custody to appear in Newtown Local Court on April 13

NSW Police Drugs and Firearms Squad Commander Detective Superintendent John Watson alleged Miller was “calling the shots” in the “well financed and well organised” operation, which police have been investigating since January. The NSW Crime Commisson was also involved in the operation.

Det Supt Watson said the “normal-looking” candles had ice stashed inside them in glass moulds and were allegedly set to go to the NSW border town of Albury.

Clothes and rubbish spotted on a bed inside Miller’s home. Picture: Toby Zerna

$2 million worth of ice concealed in candles were seized in the raid, Picture: NSW Police

Scott Miller in his swimming days.

“The 45 year-old man will be charged with directing a criminal syndicate … we’ll allege today (Miller) was calling the shots, so the head of the syndicate,” Det Supt Watson said.

“(The pair) were concealing the drugs in candles, they were for all intensive purposes everyday candles, however they weren’t laced with fragrance but half a kilo of methamphetamine in each … they were laced with death and misery.”

Johnson, who Det Supt Watson said had a longstanding relationship with Miller, is also due to be charged with participating in a criminal group, and both will be charged with supplying a commercial quantity of drugs.

Miller with his silver and bronze medals from the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Miller was married for a short time to television personality Charlotte Dawson.

Another two kilograms of a substance believed to be ice was also found at the properties today alongside cash and drug paraphernalia, police sources report.

Police remain at the three raid sites today as investigations continue, and the further two kilograms of drugs found will undergo forensic testing to determine if the substance is ice.

Det Supt Watson said Miller and Johnson were “surprised” when Drugs and Firearms officers, NSW Crime Commission investigators and tactical officers raided their homes but are said to be co-operating with investigators.

He said the two men were “important arrests” to get drugs off the streets of regional NSW and he “anticipated” more people would be charged.

Police raiding the apartment of Scott Miller in Rozelle. Picture: Toby Zerna

Police remove evidence in bags from the apartment. Picture: Toby Zerna

Police remove evidence in bags from the apartment. Picture: Toby Zerna

“This was not a small operation, they were well set up and intent on delivering death and misery right throughout the state,” Det Supt Watson said.

“We know (the syndicate) was the major one in the Albury area … regional NSW is being hit a lot with ice, and this particular syndicate was intent on contributing to that for at least the past few months … this was an important arrest for us to get these drugs off the streets.”

Both men are expected to appear in court later today when charges are finalised by police.

In 1996 Miller won a bronze and silver medal for swimming at the Atlanta Olympic Games before his life fell apart, falling into drug use.

In a TV interview in 2014 he admitted he was battling drug addiction.

He was married to television personality Charlotte Dawson in 1999 but the pair split up after a short time. Dawson suicided in 2014.