A man will face court today charged following an investigation into the importation, manufacture, and supply of prohibited drugs on the Central Coast and Sydney’s west, NSW Police say.
In May 2017, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad, with the assistance of the Australian Border Force, established Strike Force Footman after receiving information that chemicals and precursors were being imported from overseas to manufacture MDMA and methylamphetamine.
As part of the investigation, a clandestine laboratory was located at Ashtead Parade, Stanhope Gardens, following an explosion on Thursday 30 August 2018.
The lab was dismantled and forensically processed, with investigators seizing 20kg of liquids, including methylamphetamine.
During the investigation, a 38-year-old Diamond Beach man and a 32-year-old Terrigal man were arrested and charged in November. They remain before the courts.
Following further inquiries, strike force investigators executed a search warrant at a home in Parklea about 10am yesterday (Wednesday 5 December 2018).
Officers seized several items relevant to the investigation, including cash and business documents.
A 27-year-old man was arrested outside a business in Sackville Street, Lalor Park, and taken to Riverstone Police Station.
He was charged with manufacture large commercial quantity of prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug, four counts of possess precursor intend to use in manufacture, participate in criminal group, and deal with proceeds of crime.
Police will allege in court that the man was manufacturing prohibited drugs at the Stanhope Gardens property.
The man was refused bail to appear before Blacktown Local Court today (Thursday 6 December 2018).
Investigations under Strike Force Footman continue.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Footman investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
