The NSW Police Force have arrested 332 people and seized more than $33m worth of drugs during a national week of action, targeting illicit drugs and related organised criminal activity.
Operation Vitreus is a joint initiative between all Australian state and territory police agencies, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, AUSTRAC, Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, which ran between Monday 11 September 2023 and Friday 15 September 2023.
Over the course of the week, police across the country made 979 arrests, laid 2006 charges, executed 388 search warrants, and seized 1.2 tonnes of drugs with an estimated street value of $475m.
In NSW alone, the operation – led by State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad – saw 332 arrests, 441 charges, 93 search warrants and more than $33m worth of drugs seized.
Incidents of note in NSW include:
– On Monday 11 September and Tuesday 12 September 2023, officers attached to Bankstown Police Area Command executed four search warrants at properties across Granville, Belfield and Bankstown where they located and seized 523 cannabis plants and 25kg of dried cannabis leaf, estimated to have a street value of approximately $1.5m, as well as $194,490 in cash. Two women, aged 49 and 25, and three men, aged 27 and two aged 26, were taken to Bankstown Police Station where the two women and the older man were charged with eight serious drug supply and criminal group related offences, while the two younger men were charged with five offences each. They were all refused bail and appeared before Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday 13 September 2023.
– About 6.35am on Thursday 14 September 2023, officers attached to St George Police Area Command – with assistance from Raptor Squad and the Dog Squad – executed simultaneous search warrants in Georges Hall, Chester Hill, Smithfield, Bankstown, Greenacre and Earlwood as part of an ongoing investigation into a dial-a-dealer syndicate under Strike Force Vaxit. During the searches, police seized approximately 2kg of cocaine, about $168,470 in cash, 20 litres of suspected GBL, a revolver firearm, eight vehicles, stolen registration plates and items consistent with the manufacture of drugs. Five people were subsequently arrested – four males aged 24, 19, 26 and 44 – as well as a 31-year-old woman. They were charged with a number of drug supply, firearm and criminal group related offences and all refused bail. The 31 and 26-year-old appeared in Fairfield and Bankstown Local Court the same day. The 24 and 44-year-old men appeared before Bankstown Local Court on Friday 15 September 2023, while the 19-year-old appeared at Sutherland Local Court.
– On Wednesday 13 September 2023, officers attached to the Organised Crime Squad executed a search warrant in Mortdale, where they located a clandestine laboratory. Assistance was sought from the Drug and Firearms Squad Chemical Operations Unit, Forensic Evidence & Technical Services, and NSW Fire & Rescue HAZMAT teams to process the lab. At the scene, police seized over 200 items including approximately 45kg of MDMA, 1.2kg methylamphetamine and other chemicals. Following further inquiries, about 9.10am on Friday 15 September 2023, a search warrant was executed at a storage unit in Kirrawee where another lab was located and awaits processing. Investigations are ongoing.
– On Tuesday 12 September, officers attached to the Organised Crime Squad executed two search warrants at storage facilities in Rhodes and Wetherill Park under Strike Force Mactier. About 9.30pm the next day, strike force detectives – with assistance from the Public Order & Riot Squad – executed a search warrant in Auburn where they arrested a 25-year-old man. During the searches, officers located concealments of 256kg worth of hypophosphorous acid, 80kg of iodine, 1.9kg of MDMA, ice, $73,950 in cash, and two vehicles. The man was taken to Auburn Police Station, where he was charged with supply prohibited drug >= commercial quantity, deal with property proceeds of crime
Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, said Operation Vitreus is a great example of the NSWPF working closely with partner agencies to keep harmful drugs off our streets.
“The statistics – 1.2 tonnes of drugs seized across the country – show just how successful this operation was, but it also gives a snapshot into how real the problem is,” Det Supt Faux said.
“While this week of action is over, we remain committed to working alongside our partner agencies in the fight against drugs – and our ability to pool intelligence and resources like this should make criminal groups very nervous.”
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
