Following investigation in Sydney, detectives of Strike Force Duperry seized close to 60 kilograms of precursor drugs and arrested a number of people.
Strike Force Duperry is a team investigating in to drug trafficking with members from NSW Police Force’s Organised Crime Squad, the Australian Crime Commission and the NSW Crime Commission, with support and assistance provided by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS).
In May 2014, State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad seized 15 kilograms of pseudoephedrine and arrested six men and one woman in Auburn. They were charged for large commercial drug supply. After the arrests, detectives executed search warrants at properties in Berala, Auburn (two properties), Wentworth Point, Granville, and Merrylands.
From Berala, officers seized one kilogram of pseudoephedrine and items associated with the supply of drugs. From Auburn, detectives seized one ounce of methylamphetamine, three passports suspected of being counterfeit, half a kilogram of powder believed to be precursor drugs, mobile phones, cash and documents. From second property in Auburn, police seized a mobile phone and implements associated with drug use.
Earlier Strike Force Duperry had seized SKS Assault Rifle and 300 rounds of ammunition, two kilograms of methylamphetamine (‘Ice’), with a potential street value of $2 million, 870 grams of heroin with a potential street value of $870,000 also $18,000 in cash alleged to be the proceeds of crime.
In the opinion Andrew Scipione, NSW Police Commissioner present day crime syndicates are complex, multi-faceted international operations. Here criminals from different backgrounds combine their resources to dodge law enforcement agencies, commit crime and make illegal money.
In order to counter this threat, agencies are working closer with interstate and international colleagues.
According to Chris Dawson, Australian Crime Commission Chief Executive Officer, the agencies together have dismantled a high risk, serious and organised crime syndicate. The success of this operation is an outcome of state and Commonwealth agencies pooling their resources and knowledge.
