Strike Force Tromperie was established by State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission – with assistance from Australian Border Force – to target the activities of a syndicate originating from Lebanon, linked to the alleged movement of over $1 billion through firearm, drug, tobacco and money laundering offences.
Police also allegedly seized over 60 Dedicated Encrypted Criminal Communication Devices, nearly $1.5 million in cash, $2 million in cryptocurrency, a Lamborghini, over $3 million worth of luxury watches, equipment consistent with drug manufacture and two tonnes of prohibited drugs and precursor drugs with a street value of over $130 million.
Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said the investigation had dismantled one of the most significant and powerful criminal networks in Australian history.
A 38-year-old man from Greenacre who is alleged to be one of the onshore facilitators of the OCN, was charged with knowingly direct activities of criminal group, possess DECCD to commit etc serious criminal activity, as well as multiple drug supply-related offences; a 26-year-old Georges Hall man, police alleged was involved in providing the Dedicated Encrypted Criminal Communication Devices (DECCDs), was charged with possess unauthorised pistol, possess ammunition, possess DECCD to commit etc serious criminal activity and fail to comply digital evidence access order direction; a 23-year-old Punchbowl man was charged with three counts of possess DECCD to commit etc serious criminal activity; and 27-year-old man from Roselands was charged with supply of firearms, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, possession of prohibited weapons, possession of prohibited drugs, and fail to comply digital evidence access order direction.
