Strike Force Brevifolia was established by State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission in May 2024 to investigate a number of criminal networks supplying large commercial quantities of drugs across NSW.
As part of inquiries, detectives – with assistance from Australian Border Force (ABF) – identified a syndicate being run out of an immigration detention centre in Villawood.
Just before 4pm on Thursday, July 11, strike force officers executed a search warrant at the centre, where they arrested a 49-year-old man.
During a search of the unit, police allegedly located three mobile phones.
Police had also previously allegedly seized two kilograms of methylamphetamine and $169,000 in cash linked to the syndicate.
The man was charged with two counts of supply indictable quantity of prohibited drug, supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug and direct criminal group.
Police will allege in court he was using an encrypted messaging service to deal large quantities of methylamphetamine.
Police will further allege the man had established a network of runners outside of the detention centre, who he coordinated and tasked to carry out the transactions on his behalf.
Earlier last Wednesday morning, strikeforce officers raided a home in Liverpool, and allegedly located 750 grams of methylamphetamine and 90 grams of heroin in a toilet bowl, in what police will allege was an attempt to dispose of the drugs.
Police said a further 90 grams of heroin was found on the bathroom floor.
They also seized $325,000 in cash and a Dedicated Encrypted Criminal Communication Device (DECCD).
A 24-year-old man was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug more than or equal to indictable and less than commercial quantity, supply prohibited drug more than or equal to large commercial quantity, deal with property proceeds of crime less than $100,000, deal with property proceeds of crime more than or equal to $100000, and participate criminal group contribute criminal.
Police will allege the man was a runner for the older man in detention.
Detention centre drug ring smashed
TWO men have been charged as part of an investigation into an alleged drug ring being run from the Villawood Detention Centre.
