Police have seized an estimated $7.6 million worth of meth from a secret meth lab in the Sutherland Shire and charged five people in relation to a south-west Sydney drug ring in separate incidents this week.
A 48-year-old man was charged with nine drug related offences after police carried out a raid on a Heathcote home earlier this week, where they found the meth as well as items used in the production of prohibited drugs, including precursor chemicals.
Pictures supplied by NSW Police show part of the clandestine lab set-up, which included the use of large glass flasks, clamps and kitchen colanders.
Officers from Central Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad South identified the man after extensive investigations, and executed a search warrant at the Princes Highway house shortly before 4pm on Wednesday.
With the assistance of officers attached to the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad Chemical Operations Team, Public Order and Riot Squad, Technical Forensic Support Unit and Fire and Rescue NSW, police were able to locate and seize the meth stockpile, which totalled about 76 kilograms, estimated to have a value of $7.6 million.
The man was arrested at the location and was taken to Sutherland Police Station. He was charged on Wednesday and was refused bail to appear before Sutherland Local Court on Thursday. He will appear before Downing Centre Local Court on October 21.
His charges include two counts of supplying prohibited drugs in commercial quantities, organising drug premises, and possessing a precursor intended to be used in manufacture of drugs.
He was also charged with driving with a cancelled licence.
In a separate incident, NSW Police have also charged five people as part of their investigation into a drug ring in south-west Sydney.
Officers executed search warrants at homes in Oran Park on Friday morning, where they located and seized 56 grams of cocaine, $2500 cash, a rifle, a loaded revolver, ammunition and mobile devices, including a “Dedicated Encrypted Criminal Communication Device”, or DECCD, a term used to describe a device modified to facilitate criminal activity by blocking or replacing features such as geolocation and voice calls, and encrypting messages, making them more difficult to track.
Two men aged 36 and 44 were arrested at a Phillips Avenue address, while a 41-year-old man was arrested at an Evergreen Drive address. A 25-year-old man was arrested during a vehicle stop in Harrington Park shortly after, and a 28-year-old woman was arrested at a home in Narellan Vale.
All five people were taken to Narellan Police Station and charged with various drug-related offences.
The 36-year-old faces 13 charges, including knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, firing a firearm in a manner likely to harm someone, supplying drugs and knowingly dealing in the proceeds of crime.
The 44-year-old was charged with two counts of supplying prohibited drugs in commercial quantities and participating in a criminal group. The 25-year-old man, 41-year-old man and the 28-year-old woman were all charged with participating in a criminal group and supplying prohibited drugs.
All five were refused bail and are set to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.
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