Sydney drug bust: NSW police arrest 137 in cocaine, cannabis crackdown

Sydney’s white-collar elite are among those arrested in a dial-a-dealer drugs crackdown, arresting with police arresting 137 people and seizing more than $112,000 in cash.

Lawyers, court officers and corporate high rollers are among 137 people charged in a huge pre-Christmas crackdown on “dial a dealer” drug suppliers on Sydney streets.

Detectives charged 77 people with drug supply, 60 people with drug possession and seized more than $112,000 in cash and over 530 grams of cocaine on four weekends from November 13 to December 5.

Sydney’s “insatiable demand” for cocaine was again in the crosshairs of police during nine nights targeting the Eastern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, Inner West, Kings Cross, Leichhardt, North Shore, South Sydney, St George, Surry Hills and Sydney City.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bell said police had caught people from all walks of life carrying drugs and alleged over 70 were linked to organised crime.

He said there had been an increase in drug activity recently and police had targeted entertainment hubs and residential areas.

“In this particular operation, we arrested people from corporate jobs, working in courts, lawyers, right down to unemployed persons,” Det Chief Insp Bell said.

More than 250 grams of cocaine was seized during the operation.

“Over the past two months with the easing of COVID restrictions police identified a significant increase in this type of criminal behaviour … of the 77 people, we’ll allege they were operating on behalf of criminal groups and organised crime.”

Officers seized more than 530g of cocaine, 1kg of cannabis, 19g of MDMA, 16g of ketamine, 21g of LSD, 2g of heroin, 2g of methylamphetamine with a street value of more than $174,000.

The arrests are a sharp increase from the same period last year, when 84 people were charged with similar offences.

Det Chief Insp Bell said it was the largest number of arrests since officers began Strike Force Northrop – a task force designed to target Sydney’s dial-a-dealers.

Police have seized more than $112,000 cash and over 530g of cocaine, as part of a targeted “Dial-a-Dealer” operation across Sydney.

Police say there is an “insatiable demand” for cocaine across Sydney.

“Our officers were once again left astounded by the insatiable demand for prohibited drugs from those across our community,” he said.

“Over the past month, and with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, we have seen a significant increase in criminal enterprises utilising the ‘Dial-a-Dealer’ methodology to supply cocaine and other prohibited substances across Sydney.”

Det Chief Insp Bell said police had reformed the cocaine busting squad Northrop to crack down on supply.

“This operation predominantly focused on individuals supplying to the streets, but there are ongoing investigations conducted into the criminal network, there’s always criminal groups and individuals looking to exploit the demand for cocaine, there’s great financial gain,” he said.

Det Chief Insp Bell also warned punters to behave over the silly season.

“It’s unfortunate some people will now start the new year with a criminal history,” Det Chief Insp Bell said.

“If you’re caught with drugs, you’ll be arrested and go before the courts. The festive season does encourage people to take drugs, but they should start thinking about what they’re doing, drugs take lives.”

Two of the accused appeared in Waverley Local Court on Tuesday after being arrested together at Waverley on November 13.

Madison Gaywood, 20, from Bexley North, and Tahlia Mancini, 18, from Kirrawee, fronted Waverley Local Court on Tuesday.

The alleged drug dealers were arrested together at Waverley on the night of November 13 during the police crackdown.

The pair sat side by side in court as their matter was briefly mentioned.

Mancini’s lawyer asked for an adjournment until later this month while Gaywood, who was represented by legal aide, also had her matter adjourned to the same date.

They are each facing two counts of supply prohibited drug, relating to about 3g of cocaine, and one count of deal with proceeds of crime.

No plea has been entered by either.

ARRESTS

Bondi

A 31-year-old Double Bay man was charged with three counts of supplying prohibited drugs, dealing with the proceeds of crime and possessing a prohibited drug after being arrested on Saturday.

A man was arrested at Bondi on Saturday.

He has been granted strict conditional bail.

Officers stopped his white Honda Jazz on Glen St, Bondi. They allegedly found 5g of MDMA, 21g of LSD, ketamine and cannabis. He was granted strict conditional bail.

His passenger, a 34-year-old Randwick man was arrested after a physical altercation with plain-clothed police. He was charged with resisting an officer and two counts of drug possession.

Darlinghurst

Police charged two men after allegedly finding cocaine and $4,350 cash hidden in a white Jeep Cherokee on Friday night. Officers searched the car on Yurong St, Darlinghurst. They allegedly found $1,500 concealed in the roof lining and a further $2,850 in the jacket of the front passenger.

The driver, a 26-year-old Eagle Vale man, and front passenger, an 18-year-old Airds man, were charged with drug possession and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Two men were arrested and charged after cocaine and cash was alleged found in a car on Friday.

$1,500 was also allegedly found concealed in the car’s roof lining.

The Rocks

Cash, cocaine and heroin were allegedly found when police searched a white Kia Picante on Hickson Rd, The Rocks last Friday.

Police will allege they found more than 27g of cocaine in 35 separate bags hidden in the underwear of the driver – a 23-year-old Fairfield East woman.

She was charged with supplying a prohibited drug, possessing a prohibited drug and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

A 23-year-old was arrested at the Rocks.

Police will allege they found cocaine in 35 separate bags during the search.

Rushcutters Bay

A 31-year-old Zetland man was charged with drug supply, drug possession and dealing with the proceeds of crime after a police search of his car on Friday, November 20.

Officers allegedly found cocaine and $600 cash in his Hyundai i30 on Bayswater Rd, Rushcutters Bay.

An arrest in Rushcutters Bay.

Police allegedly found cocaine and cash in the man’s car.

Paddington

Cocaine, ketamine and MDMA were seized and a 32-year-old Constitution Hill woman charged after police searched a white Mazda 3 last month.

On Friday November 20 officers searched the car on Glenmore Rd, Paddington. They allegedly found 3g of ketamine and MDMA in the vehicle. Police then allegedly found 15g of cocaine in 25 separate bags on the woman. She was charged with drug possession, drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Bondi

A teenager was charged with drug supply and dealing the proceeds of crime after police allegedly found $3,795 and 12.5g of cocaine in his car last month. The 18-year-old Punchbowl man was driving a black Audi on Jacques St, Bondi Beach on November 13 before he was stopped by police.

Police charged him with drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Waverley

Police charged two young women with drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of crime after allegedly finding cocaine and cash in their Holden Astra last month.

The driver, a 20-year-old woman, and her front passenger, an 18-year-old woman, were charged after police allegedly found 2g of cocaine and $1,650 in the car on Friday November 13 at the intersection of Carrington Rd and Victoria St Waverley.

Cocaine and $1650 was allegedly found by police in car at Waverley last month.

Two women were charged in the search.

The Rocks

Police allegedly found 31 separate bags of cocaine in the hidden compartment of a white BMW after searching the car on Hickson Rd, The Rocks last month.

Officers searched the car on November 13 allegedly finding $2,100 in cash and more than 21g of cocaine hidden in the vehicle.

The driver, a 32-year-old Merrylands West man, was charged with drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Sydney

Cash, cocaine and MDMA were allegedly found in a 22-year-old Bankstown man’s car as he drove through Sydney last month.

Police searched the Mitsubishi Mirage on Margaret St on November 13 before allegedly finding nearly 5g of cocaine, 4.7g of MDMA and $300 cash.

The 22-year-old driver was charged with drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of crime.