TWO men have been charged as part of a joint investigation into alleged importation of cocaine after 6kg of methylamphetamine and 3kg of MDMA were seized by police in Sydney’s east.
In February, Australian Border Force officers inspected a package at the Sydney Gateway Facility, which had arrived from the United States.
The consignment was X-rayed and after ABF officers noted inconsistencies, it was deconstructed and found to contain white powder inside a vacuum-sealed bag. The substance was tested and returned a presumptive positive result for cocaine.
The matter was referred to the NSW Police Force and detectives from Eastern Suburbs established Strike Force Tambelin to investigate the importation.
Following extensive inquiries and with assistance from Blacktown and Eastern Beaches Police Area Commands, two men – aged 29 and 32 – were arrested in a car park in Curlewis Street, Bondi Beach, about 2.15pm on 25 March.
During a subsequent search of their vehicle, strike force investigators located and seized 68.6g of methylamphetamine, six fraudulent identifications and $32,950 cash.
Later that day, a search warrant was executed at a property at Bellevue Hill, where police seized 6kg of methylamphetamine, which has an estimated potential street value of $4.5 million; 3kg of MDMA, which has an estimated potential street value of $165,000; and $16,500 cash.
A crime scene was also established at a property at Bondi Beach after investigators located equipment consistent with the manufacture of prohibited drugs.
Strike force investigators executed a crime scene warrant at the property about 8am on 26 March, which is continuing with the assistance of the Drug and Firearms Squad’s Chemical Operations Team and Fire and Rescue NSW’s HAZMAT.
The older man was charged with import marketable quantity of border-controlled drug, supply indictable quantity of prohibited drug, deal with proceeds of crime, possess identify info to commit indictable offence and supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).
The younger man was charged with import marketable quantity of border-controlled drug and supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug.
Both men were refused bail and appeared via AVL at Waverley Local Court on 26 March, where they were formally bail refused.
