Wollongong police believe they have shut down an organised Vietnamese crime syndicate operating in the Illawarra, arresting six people and seizing 140kgs of cannabis worth $2.8 million.
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From about 7am Thursday, police from the Illawarra-based Strike Force Burgh swooped on the pair’s Gipps Street property.
Homes at Farmborough Heights, Dapto, Windang and Mt Warrigal were also targeted, in a series of raids 10 months in the making.
The police action is linked to raids on Wednesday at homes in Bankstown and at Punchbowl, where detectives allegedly seized $200,000 cash and 14kg of cannabis.
In all, six people have been arrested as part of the same syndicate, which allegedly has tentacles across the Illawarra and south-west Sydney.
The Wollongong man and woman, aged 41 and 38 respectively, have been charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and are due to front Wollongong Local Court Friday and Thursday afternoon.
Southern Region Police Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Craner, said the arrests were a major coup for Illawarra police.
“Over the past six months the community has told me in no uncertain terms that they’re fed up with the drug supply in the Illawarra,” he said.
“We think we’ve made massive inroads ... We haven’t gone after the drug users, we haven’t gone after small, $20 sales, we’ve gone after major organised crime groups that do the dirty money, that commit further offences, that sometimes are associated with counter terrorism and that is what we’ve targeted in this event.”
We think we’ve made massive inroads ... We haven’t gone after the drug users, we haven’t gone after small, $20 sales, we’ve gone after major organised crime groups that do the dirty money ...
Wollongong Police District established Strike Force Burgh in February 2018 to investigate the local supply of prohibited drugs, with initial investigations focused on the cultivation and sale of cannabis in the area.
About 7am Wednesday officers from Strike Force Burgh, including officers from State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearm Squad, the Lake Illawarra Police District, Strike Force Raptor (South) and the Dog Unit, conducted search warrants at homes in Ogmore Court, Bankstown and Scott Street, Punchbowl.
At Bankstown, detectives allegedly seized about 250 grams of cannabis leaf, equipment for the cultivation of hydroponic cannabis and a cannabis harvesting room.
At Punchbowl, detectives allegedly found more than $200,000 in cash, 14kg of cannabis leaf and heads, and a large quantity of designer handbags, shoes and jewellery.
A 30-year-old Punchbowl woman was arrested at the scene and was charged with knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime, two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug, two counts of supplying a commercial quantity of prohibited drug, two counts of recklessly deal with proceeds of crime (less than $5000), and owner/occupier knowingly expose child to drugs.
“If you think how long it takes you to save up $200,000 in cash, this is dirty money,” Supt Craner said.
“This is money that is proceeds of crime and this is money that has infiltrated into organised crime.”
The woman was refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court on Thursday.
More than 60 officers were involved in Thursday’s Illawarra raids, at properties on Farmborough Road, Farmborough Heights; Laver Road, Dapto; Fern Street, Windang; Lavis Drive, Mt Warrigal and Gipps Street, Wollongong.
In these raids, detectives allegedly seized cannabis, cash and prohibited weapons.
Police also arrested and charged a 37-year-old man, a 58-year-old man and a 27-year-old man who were bailed to appear at court at a later date.
The strike force’s work is ongoing.
Anyone with information about illegal drug supply is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.
A Wollongong couple is among six people ensnared in a police operation targeting a major cannabis supply syndicate, arrested at their home this morning and charged with supplying 140kgs of the drug, to the tune of $2.8 million.
From about 7am Thursday, police from the Illawarra-based Strike Force Burgh swooped on the pair’s Gipps Street property.
Homes at Farmborough Heights, Dapto, Windang and Mt Warrigal were also targeted, in a series of raids 10 months in the making.
The police action is linked to raids, yesterday, at homes in Bankstown and at Punchbowl, where detectives allegedly seized $200,000 cash and 14kg of cannabis.
In all, six people have been arrested as part of the same syndicate, which allegedly has tentacles across the Illawarra and south-west Sydney.
The Wollongong man and woman, aged 41 and 38 respectively, have been charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and are due to front Wollongong Local Court tomorrow and this afternoon.
Southern Region Police Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Craner, said the arrests were a major coup for Illawarra police.
“Over the last six months the community has told me in no uncertain terms that they’re fed up with the drug supply in the Illawarra,” he said.
“We think we’ve made massive inroads ... We haven’t gone after the drug users, we haven’t gone after small, $20 sales, we’ve gone after major organised crime groups that do the dirty money, that commit further offences, that sometimes are associated with counter terrorism and that is what we’ve targeted in this event.”
Wollongong Police District established Strike Force Burgh in February 2018 to investigate the local supply of prohibited drugs, with initial investigations focused on the cultivation and sale of cannabis in the area.
About 7am yesterday officers from Strike Force Burgh, including officers from State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearm Squad, the Lake Illawarra Police District, Strike Force Raptor (South) and the Dog Unit, conducted search warrants at homes in Ogmore Court, Bankstown and Scott Street, Punchbowl.
At Bankstown, detectives allegedly seized approximately 250 grams of cannabis leaf, equipment for the cultivation of hydroponic cannabis and a cannabis harvesting room.
At Punchbowl, detectives allegedly found more than $200,000 in cash, 14kg of cannabis leaf and heads, and a large quantity of designer handbags, shoes and jewellery.
A 30-year-old Punchbowl woman was arrested at the scene and was charged with knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime, two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug, two counts of supplying a commercial quantity of prohibited drug, two counts of recklessly deal with proceeds of crime (less than $5000), and owner/occupier knowingly expose child to drugs.
“If you think how long it takes you to save up $200,000 ins cash, this is dirty money,” Supt Craner said.
“This is money that is proceeds of crime and this is money that has infiltrated into organised crime.”
The woman was refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court today.
More than 60 officers were involved in today’s Illawarra raids, at properties on Farmborough Road, Farmborough Heights; Laver Road, Dapto; Fern Street, Windang; Lavis Drive, Mt Warrigal and Gipps Street, Wollongong.
In these raids, detectives allegedly seized cannabis, cash and prohibited weapons.
Police also arrested and charged a 37-year-old man, a 58-year-old man and a 27-year-old man who were bailed to appear at court at a later date.
The strike force’s work is ongoing.
Anyone with information about illegal drug supply is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.