SYDNEY: Seven men have been charged after police seized more than 100 kilograms of the drug ice, some hidden in flat-pack furniture after a series of raids on properties in Sydney’s west.
The men, aged from 23 to 69, are Malaysian and Hong Kong nationals and were arrested after police searched properties in Fairfield, Parramatta, Burwood, Wentworthville and St Marys late last night.
Police seized 129 kilograms of methylamphetamine in various stages of manufacture, including more than 80kg that was still in the process of being extracted from pieces of the furniture.
Officers also seized more than $70,000 cash.
The men were charged with various offences, including manufacturing and supplying a prohibited drug and participating in criminal group.
They were all refused bail to appear at courts in Burwood, Parramatta, Fairfield and St George.
Police said investigations into the crime network and the origin of the drugs were ongoing.
The raids were carried out by the Organised Crime Squad’s Strike Force Maize, which was established in October to investigate the large commercial supply of methylamphetamine and associated money laundering offences.
Detective Superintendent Scott Cook, Commander of the Organised Crime Squad, said the importation and trafficking of the drug ice had a devastating effect on many communities in Australia.
“We will continue to work with our partners to catch those responsible for pedalling this miserable poison to our children,” Detective Superintendent Cook said.
“I would like to congratulate the members of the Organised Crime Squad for their hard work and dedication, which has led to the downfall of this criminal network in NSW.
“This is a significant result for the community but there is still more to do; this network is highly sophisticated, compartmentalised and operating internationally.”
