The taskforce, which was established in July as a proactive policing strategy to target and disrupt gun-related and violent crime and investigate links between recent organised criminal activity in Sydney, executed three search warrants and 15 Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) compliance check searches last week.
During the searches, police located and seized two firearms, about 700g of cocaine, one kilogram of cannabis, methylamphetamine, $45,000 cash, mobile phones, numerous fraudulent NSW registration plates, and luxury jewellery and watches believed to be stolen.
It’s estimated the potential street value of the prohibited drugs seized is approximately $750,000.
A 24-year-old man was arrested at a Greenacre home and charged with possess prohibited drug and found on/entering/leaving drug premises. Police also allegedly also seized a laptop, believed to be used in the manufacture of the fraudulent registration plates, while an 18-year-old man arrested at a home in Villawood, was charged with two counts of goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle), and a 28-year-old woman arrested at the same home was issued a future court attendance notice for possessing a prohibited drug.
Deputy Commissioner of Investigations and Counter Terrorism, David Hudson, said the operation was another example of Task Force Magnus targeting those people who continued to assist and facilitate these organised criminal networks.
“We will allege each of the nine people arrested yesterday were either members or associates of an outlaw motorcycle gang or organised criminal network,” he said.
“We are learning more every day about how these syndicates are operating, and how our disruption tactics are impacting their operations. With that information, Task Force Magnus operatives will continue to proactively take these people off the streets and put them before the courts.
“The arrests act as another reminder to those who wish to engage in this sort of criminal behaviour, that by doing so you will come under the microscope of Task Force Magnus.”
Anyone with information which may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
