Two men have been charged after more than a tonne of Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL) was seized following search warrants related to a vehicle stop in Sydney’s CBD.
Just after 4.30pm on Friday (15 May 2020), detectives attached to Sydney City Police Area Command were patrolling the CBD when they stopped a hire car on Yurong Street, Darlinghurst.
Officers searched the 37-year-old driver and vehicle, seizing drugs including approximately 27kgs of GBL, cash, and various electronic devices and documents.
He was charged with various drug offences and was formally refused bail, where he is set to re-appear before Central Local Court on Tuesday 7 July 2020.
As a result of follow-up inquiries, detectives executed a search warrant at a Regents Park factory on Monday (18 May 2020), where they seized 724kgs of GBL.
A further 56kgs of GBL was seized during a search warrant at a unit in Hunters Hill on Tuesday (19 May 2020), with officers also dismantling a clandestine laboratory set up within the home.
About 1.15pm yesterday (Wednesday 20 May 2020) officers executed a crime scene warrant at a storage facility on Wellington Street, Granville, where a further 252 kilograms of GBL was discovered.
During the search, two men drove into the storage facility and were stopped by investigators, before being arrested and taken to Parramatta Police Station about 3.40pm.
Upon a search of the vehicle, police located cash, mobile phones, sim cards, fraudulent driver licences and about 150 grams of white powder – believed to be cocaine.
A 35-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity), supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity), possess identify info to commit indictable offence, deal with proceeds of crime and possess prohibited drug.
He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (Thursday 21 May 2020).
A 32-year-old man was charged with deal with proceeds of crime and possess prohibited drug. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday 22 July 2020.
The total amount of GBL seized by investigators to date is approximately 1,059 kilograms, with an estimated potential street value of almost $8.5 million.
Investigations continue.
NSW Police are liaising with interstate agencies as inquiries continue. Anyone with information is urged to come forward via Crimestoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
