Police arrest Dimitri Batisatados, raid multimillion-dollar Rozelle mansion in cocaine sting
A man has been charged after police raided a Rozelle mansion in a major drug bust, waking residents as officers and sniffer dogs stormed the property at dawn.
Police have raided a multimillion-dollar mansion in Sydney’s inner west and charged a man as part of a serious drug supply investigation.
Residents were woken early on Wednesday morning as police executed a search warrant at a Rozelle property, arresting and charging Dimitri Batisatados with a dozen drug supply and participating in criminal group offences.
Multiple officers and sniffer dogs from the NSW Police Central Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad executed the search warrant on Nelson Street at around 6am, with neighbours claiming police were also demanding the whereabouts of Mr Batisatados’ relative, who is understood to be in Bali.
In a statement police said Mr Batisatados was arrested at the scene and was taken to Newtown Police Station, where he was refused police bail.
The 33-year-old faced Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday charged with seven counts of supply prohibited drug (greater than indictable), one count of Supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, one count of supply prohibited drug (greater than commercial quantity), one count of participate in criminal group contribute criminal activity and two counts of supplying (greater than small, less than indictable).
Mr Batisatados, who graduated from Holy Cross College Ryde, was denied bail by a magistrate.
Shocked neighbours were woken by loud noises when police smashed down the front door as they executed the search warrant.
On Wednesday afternoon the door was covered up and glass had been swept into a corner.
A woman at the property said details of the police raid were “mixed up”.
It is understood Mr Batisatados, who was born in Greece, and a relative inherited the property around a decade ago after his parents died.
One neighbour who was shocked by the raid said he came from a “good solid family”.
He will return to court on July 8.
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