Police have disrupted the supply of MDMA after dismantling a rural clandestine laboratory near Blayney and arresting six alleged syndicate members.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And another raid of a property at Mount Rankin has uncovered a cannabis crop and alleged links to a wider drug operation.
In 2017, investigators from the North West Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad (RES) established Strike Force Wanawong to investigate the supply of MDMA across the region.
As a result of their inquiries, investigators also uncovered the large-scale manufacture of MDMA, which included the purchase, storage, and diversion of chemicals in south-west Sydney and the Central West.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators, assisted by the State Protection Support Unit, executed a search warrant at a property at Neville, near Blayney, in the state’s Central West, about 6am on Thursday.
Police located an active, large-scale clandestine laboratory, which was rendered safe, which is being dismantled by the Drug and Firearms Squad’s Chemical Operations Team.
VIDEO: Footage from the scene of the raids ...
Investigators seized MDMA pills and powder, chemicals, a loaded semi-automatic pump action shotgun, ammunition, recreational vehicles, chemicals (precursors), a pill press and other items associated with the manufacture of MDMA, $20,000 cash and documentation.
Two men – aged 43 and 44 – were arrested at the property and taken to Bathurst police station.
The 43-year-old man from Fletcher, near Newcastle, was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, two counts of large commercial manufacture of prohibited drug, two counts of large commercial drug supply, drug supply, and recklessly deal with proceeds of crime.
The 44-year-old man from Wattle Grove, in Sydney’s south-west, was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, two counts of large commercial manufacture of prohibited drug, and possess unregistered firearm-prohibited firearm.
Both men were refused bail to appear at Lithgow Local Court on Friday.
A short time later, strike force investigators, assisted by Western RES, Newcastle City Drug Unit, Chifley Police District and local police executed 10 further search warrants.
The search warrants included factories at Moorebank, Wetherill Park, and Yennora, and properties at Mount Rankin near Bathurst, Fletcher, Merrylands, and Wattle Grove.
While executing the search warrant at Mount Rankin officers located a large-scale crop site of 832 cannabis plants in various stages of maturity, and 130 harvested cannabis plants, which produced 60kg of cannabis head.
The total estimated potential street value of the plants and cannabis head is almost $2 million.
Two teenage boys and two men – aged 41 and 72 – were arrested at the crop site and taken to Bathurst Police Station.
The teens were charged with cultivate commercial quantity of prohibited plant and commercial drug supply.
Both boys were refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Friday, March 23.
The 41-year-old man, who is also an Italian National, was charged with cultivate commercial quantity of prohibited plant and commercial drug supply.
The 72-year-old man was charged with cultivate commercial quantity of prohibited plant and commercial drug supply.
Both men were refused bail to appear at Lithgow Local Court on Friday, March 23.