Police search: Police allege they found drugs, cash and firearms while executing search warrants at a number of properties across Sydney. Picture: Facebook/Sutherland Shire Police Area Command
A Miranda man is among six people charged after prohibited drugs worth $12 million, firearms and cash were seized during a major police operation yesterday.
It followed an 18-month joint investigation by Southern Region Enforcement Squad and the Raptor Squad into the supply of prohibited drugs and alleged criminal activities.
NSW Police said investigators attached to Southern Region Enforcement Squad (RES) established Strike Force Kniepp in September 2019.
Police said early inquiries revealed a criminal syndicate was supplying prohibited drugs – mainly cocaine, MDMA and methylamphetamine (ice) – across Sydney’s south-eest and eastern beaches and the NSW South Coast.
In February this year, Strike Force Gommera was established by the State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad to investigate the syndicate’s links to Sydney-based outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Following an extensive joint investigation, a 36-year-old Miranda man was arrested by the Tactical Operations Unit at a Bulli carpark, about 11.30am yesterday.
Police allege that during a subsequent search of the man’s vehicle, they found prohibited drugs, including MDMA, cocaine, and methylamphetamine (ice), with a combined estimated potential street value of $150,000.
The man, who is allegedly an associate of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, was taken to Wollongong police station and charged with 20 offences, including:
- four counts supply prohibited drug – large commercial quantity
- six counts supply prohibited drug – commercial quantity
- two counts supply prohibited drug – indictable quantity
- knowingly deal with proceeds of crime
- possess unregistered firearm
- two counts possess unauthorised pistol
- not keep firearm safely (pistol)
- possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority
- participate criminal group/contribute criminal activity
- possess precursor intend to use in manufacture/production.
He was refused bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court today.
A short time later, investigators from Raptor Squad and Southern Region Regional Enforcement Squad executed 10 search warrants at properties at Miranda, Taren Point, Peakhurst, Dover Heights, Revesby, Pyrmont, Rose Bay and Zetland.
During the searches, NSW Police said officers seized more than $1.2 million in cash, three firearms, ammunition, four luxury vehicles, jewellery valued at $1 million, electronic devices, items consistent with the supply of prohibited drugs and 100 litres of chemicals used in the manufacture of prohibited drugs.
Officers also seized 12.5 kilograms of prohibited drugs, including cocaine, MDMA, and methylamphetamine (ice), with a combined estimated potential street value of $12 million.
A further five men aged 26, 28, 47 and two men aged 31 were arrested and taken to various police stations.
This includes a Peakhurst man, 31, who is allegedly a Bandidos Motorcycle Club member.
He was charged with 37 counts of take part supply prohibited drug, knowingly direct activities of criminal group, participate criminal group/contribute criminal activity and conceal serious indictable offence.
He was refused bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court today.
