Four men have been charged and drugs and cash worth more than $1.3m seized, after simultaneous search warrants were executed in homes across Sydney yesterday.
Strike Force Abut was established in September 2023 to investigate large-scale drug supply in Sydney’s south-west and Illawarra region.
Following extensive investigations, detectives from Bankstown Region Enforcement Squad and Wollongong Police District executed seven search warrants simultaneously at homes across Cecil Hills, Sadleir, Punchbowl, Bankstown, and Castle Hill, about 1.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 10 January 2024).
Officers seized a total of 6.5 litres of 1,4-butanediol, 1kg of heroin, 981.7g methylamphetamine, cannabis, MDMA, and cocaine, a mobile phone, and $27,000 cash. These items will undergo forensic examination.
The drugs are believed to have an estimated potential street value of $1,087,000.
During a search of the Bankstown and Castle Hill homes, police located two clandestine laboratories in a shed and a granny flat. A crime scene was declared, and both locations are undergoing forensic examinations by the SCC Chemical Operations Unit.
A 51-year-old man was arrested at the Castle Hill address and taken to Castle Hill Police Station where he was charged with
- Supply prohibited drug – more than commercial quantity
- Supply prohibited drug – more than indictable/less than commercial quantity
- Deal with proceeds of crime
- Organises/conducts/assists drug premises
He was bail refused to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (Thursday 11 January 2024).
A 29-year-old man was arrested on Joadja Road, Liverpool, and taken to Liverpool Police Station where he was charged with 29 offences,
- Supply prohibited drug – more than indictable/less than commercial quantity (23 counts)
- Supply prohibited drug – more than commercial quantity (three counts)
- Supply prohibited drug – more than large commercial quantity (three counts)
He was bail refused to appear before Liverpool Local Court today (Thursday 11 January 2024).
A 28-year-old man was arrested on Hoxton Park Road, Prestons, and taken to Liverpool Police Station where he was charged with
- Supply prohibited drug – more than commercial quantity
- Deal with proceeds of crime
- Participate in criminal group contribute criminal activity
He was bail refused to appear before Liverpool Local Court today (Thursday 11 January 2024).
A 49-year-old man was also arrested on Hoxton Park Road, Prestons, and taken to Liverpool Police Station. He was charged with possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit. He was released on conditional bail, to appear before Liverpool Local Court on Thursday 18 January 2024.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Abut 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.
