Detectives from the State Crime Command have arrested seven men, and seized firearms, drugs, cash and luxury vehicles following an operation in Sydney's south-west yesterday (Tuesday 18 February 2014).
Last year (2013), detectives from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad (MEOCS) formed Strike Force Maddox to investigate a methylamphetamine ('Ice') supply syndicate based in and around Casula, Liverpool, Green Valley and surrounding suburbs.
Police will allege in court that the syndicate was selling tens of thousands of dollars worth of 'Ice' every month.
At 6.45am yesterday (Tuesday 18 February 2014), MEOCS detectives were joined by police from the Firearm and Organised Crime Squad (FAOCS), the Public Order and Riot Squad (PORS), and the South West Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad (SWMRES), in executing simultaneous search warrants at a number of properties in Sydney's south-west.
In total, eight properties -- two homes in Lurnea, two in Casula, two in Green Valley, one in Bonnyrigg Heights and one in Miller -- were searched during yesterday's operation.
During the warrants officers located and seized numerous items, including:
- A 357 Magnum revolver;
- A Glock pistol;
- A pump-action 12 gauge shotgun;
- More than 650 grams of 'Ice';
- More than 12 grams of cannabis;
- Four cannabis plants;
- Six MDMA tablets;
- One vial of steroids;
- A small amount of prescription medication;
- Cash;
- Ammunition;
- Two luxury 4WD vehicles;
- A 20ft cruiser boat; and,
- 32 mobile phones.
At one of the properties in Casula, police located and dismantled an inactive clandestine laboratory. A number of chemicals and pieces of equipment associated with the manufacture of 'Ice' were seized for forensic examination.
Seven men were arrested and charged as a result of yesterday's operation. They are:
- A 29-year-old Casula man who has been charged with direct activities of criminal group, manufacture prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug, and deal with the proceeds of crime. He has been refused bail and is next due to appear in Liverpool Local Court on 25 February 2014.
- A 22-year-old Green Valley man who was charged with a number of offences including supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, supply a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, and participate in a criminal group. He was refused bail and is scheduled to appear in Liverpool Local Court today (Wednesday 19 February 2014).
- A 31-year-old Casula man who was charged with manufacture prohibited drug, supply a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, deal with the proceeds of crime, participate in a criminal group, possess a restricted substance and two counts of possession of a prohibited drug. He was refused bail and is next due to appear at Campbelltown Local Court on 2 April 2014.
- A 20-year-old Lurnea man who was charged with participate in a criminal group and manufacture a prohibited drug. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Liverpool Local Court on 15 April 2014.
- A 33-year-old Oatlands man who was charged with manufacture prohibited drug and participate in a criminal group. He was refused bail to appear in Sutherland Local Court today (Wednesday 19 February 2014).
- A 28-year-old Lurnea man who was charged with numerous firearm-related offences including three counts of possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, three counts of possess unregistered firearm, possess shortened firearm (not pistol) without authorisation, and two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapons with a permit. He appeared in Liverpool Local Court yesterday (Tuesday 18 February 2014) and was bail refused to reappear on 4 March 2014.
- A 35-year-old Miller man was issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice for cannabis possession.
Police are urging anyone with information about this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: [ Ссылка ]. Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
