By Jessica McSweeney and Perry Duffin
More than 100 people were charged in a major pre-Christmas police operation targeting dial-a-dealers supplying the city’s “silly season” parties – including arrests in Bondi and outside Parliament House.
Over three weekends, police arrested 108 people and seized 650 bags of cocaine and 78 MDMA caps, along with cannabis, THC edibles, ketamine and ice.
A man was arrested outside Parliament House in Sydney’s CBD.Credit: NSW Police
Of the 108 people arrested, 64 were charged with drug supply and 44 with drug possession offences. One person was charged with domestic violence offences.
Police say Sydney is awash with drugs, particularly for Christmas parties, and they were focusing their resources in response.
“If you’re silly enough to do it, at this time of year specifically, we have a specific focus on it, and you’re likely to come unstuck,” Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna told media on Monday morning.
“You are likely to be arrested and charged.”
Police found cars carrying up to 70 bags of cocaine, suggesting street-level dealers were making significant sums of money.
“We’re picking them out fairly easily now ... Certainly, there’s a significant amount of drugs being supplied in Sydney,” McKenna said.
Buyers should be aware that jumping into cars outside Sydney’s pubs, only to be dropped around the block $300 lighter, will get police attention.
“And, I’ll tell you, everyone gets a prize,” McKenna said.
“[Buyers] lose their money to the drug supplier because we will seize that, they lose the drugs because we will seize those, they end up either with a fine or a date in court.”
Police allegedly found 650 bags of cocaine across three weekends.Credit: NSW Police
Many arrests occurred in Sydney’s CBD and the eastern suburbs. One man was arrested outside Parliament House on November 21.
In another arrest, a 22-year-old man was arrested on Hunter Street in the CBD. Police allege they found 14 bags of cocaine and more than $6000 cash in a hidden compartment in his car.
He was charged with drug supply, dealing with proceeds of crime, possession and not displaying P plates. He was bailed to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on December 18.
Another 22-year-old man – a Korean national – was arrested on November 29 at Spring Street in the CBD. Police allege they found 21 bags of cocaine, 60 MDMA caps and $750 in cash.
He was charged with supplying drugs and bailed to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on December 17.
Last Saturday, December 7, a 45-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were arrested on Bondi Road, Bondi, allegedly carrying 24 bags of cocaine. Police allege more than $3000 in cash and a knife were found in their car.
They were both charged with supplying drugs and carrying a knife. Both were bailed to face Waverley Local Court on January 7.
The arrests were part of Strike Force Northrop, which has arrested 800 people as part of dial-a-dealers since 2017. This three-weekend operation began on November 22.
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