More than 290 people were arrested and charged last week, as officers across the NSW Police force took part in a national week of action under Operation Vitreus, which works to disrupt large-scale drug supply and organised crime activity.
Operation Vitreus – which is a joint initiative between all Australian state and territory police agencies, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, AUSTRAC, Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and New Zealand Police - ran between Monday 1 September 2025 and Friday 5 September 2025.
During the nationwide operation, 1246 people were arrested, resulting in 2522 charges, and police seized more than 1959 litres of 1,4-butanediol, 890g of heroin, 90kg of methylamphetamine, 569kg of cocaine, 3.1kg of MDMA, 58kg of ketamine, 1271 cannabis plants and 140kg of cannabis, as well as 52 firearms and over $1.6 million in cash.
The estimated combined street value of all drugs seized during the operation is more than $264 million.
The NSW Police operation – led by State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad – saw 291 arrests, resulting in 433 charges, and the seizure of over $2 million worth of illicit drugs.
Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, Commander of NSW Police Force's Organised Crime Squad, said the combined efforts of all agencies reinforced the commitment to disrupting drug supply and organised crime.
"Operation Vitreus involves representatives from all law enforcement and intelligence agencies across Australia and New Zealand and is a reminder that police continue to disrupt the supply of illicit drugs across the country," Det Supt Faux said.
"Collaborative efforts are vital to the operation's success and we will continue to work with other law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions to prevent harmful drugs from entering the community.
"A significant number of people are now before the courts for drug related offences due to the success of the national week of action.
"We are sending a clear message: if you possess, supply or import prohibited drugs, you are committing a crime and it won't be long before you come to the attention of law enforcement."
Incidents of note for NSW include:
About 9.35am on Wednesday 3 September 2025, detectives from State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad - with assistance from Raptor Squad officers and the Dog Unit - executed a search warrant at a house on Warra Street, Wentworthville.
During the search, police located a hydroponic setup with 23 cannabis plants in various stages of maturity.
Two gel blasters were also located inside the premises and seized by police.
A 55-year-old man was arrested and taken to Parramatta Police Station.
He was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug more than indictable and less than commercial quantity and cultivate prohibited plant more than small and less than or equal to indictable quantity.
The 55-year-old was granted conditional bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday 1 October 2025.
About 7.05am on Thursday 4 September 2025, detectives from the State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad – with assistance from officers attached to Chifley Police District Region Enforcement Squad and Western Region Operational Support Group – executed a search warrant at a house on Elliot Street, Forbes.
During the search, police located and seized 23g of cocaine, a mobile phone and items indicative of drug supply.
A 44-year-old man was arrested at the address and taken to Parkes Police Station.
He was charged with supply prohibited drug more than indictable and less than commercial quantity and possess prohibited drug.
The 44-year-old was granted conditional bail to appear before Forbes Local Court on Tuesday 21 October 2025.
Police would also like to remind the public about the health issues of these drugs targeted during Operation Vitreus.
General health risks/harms associated with illicit drugs
- Illicit drug use carries inherent risks and taking even a known substance can result in unintended harm.
- The consumption of alcohol and other drugs is a major cause of preventable disease and illness in Australia.
- The harms from drug use impact – directly and indirectly – on all Australian communities, families and individuals. Impacts range across the spectrum of health, social and economic harms. Health harms include injuries, chronic conditions and diseases, mental health problems, road trauma, and overdose.
Methamphetamine
- The health harms associated with the use of methamphetamine and other stimulants include mental illness, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular problems and overdose.
- People who inject methamphetamine and share needles are at increased risk of contracting hepatitis C, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS as well as infection and vein damage.
- Methamphetamine production often relies on unknown and/or harmful ingredients. This can further increase the health risks associated with consumption.
GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate)
- Consumption of GHB can cause drowsiness, vomiting, mood swings and dependence. GHB use carries a high risk of unconsciousness, respiratory collapse and overdose because there is very little difference between the amount that it is typically consumed and the amount that will cause overdose.
- The risk of GHB overdose increases when its use is combined with other drugs such as alcohol, benzodiazepines and opioids.
Synthetic opioids including fentanyl and nitazenes
- The negative health consequences of opioids, including synthetic opioids includes dependence, infectious disease transmission (primarily through risky injecting practice) and death from overdose.
- Synthetic opioids can be extremely potent which increases the risk of health harms including overdose.
- People who use other drugs such as heroin and cocaine may inadvertently consume synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and nitazenes when it is used as an adulterant. Synthetic opioids have also be found in counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs. Inherently this kind of exposure increases the risk of overdose.
- The Take Home Naloxone (THN) Program makes naloxone, a medicine that temporarily reverse the effects of opioids (including synthetic opioids), available for free, without the need for a prescription, to people who may experience, or witness an opioid overdose. Further details at:
Alcohol and drug treatment hotline
- The National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline provides free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs treatment services on 1800 250 015. Further information on treatment and supports is available from:
Overdose
- Drugs are unpredictable and they can affect people in different ways.
- Call 000 for an ambulance immediately if there is even the slightest risk that someone is having an unusual reaction to a drug.
- Emergency services will only notify police if there is a risk to their own personal safety or if someone dies.
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into the supply of illicit drugs is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
