Surry Hills RES investigators have charged a man with commercial drug supply offences after seizing $30,000 cash, designer handbags, two luxury vehicles and illicit drugs during a police operation in Sydney yesterday.
In August last year, officers from Surry Hills Region Enforcement Squad (RES) established Strike Force Pangolin to investigate the large-scale supply of prohibited drugs – including heroin, cocaine and methylamphetamine (ice) – across Sydney.
So far during the investigation, strike force detectives have charged two men – aged 39 and 43 – and a 52-year-old woman with drug-related offences. All three remain before the courts.
Following extensive inquiries, Surry Hills RES investigators arrested a 56-year-old man during a vehicle stop at Courallie Avenue, Homebush, just before 11am yesterday (Wednesday 10 February 2021).
In a subsequent search of the Range Rover SUV, officers seized more than $5,000 cash.
A short time later, with assistance from Bass Hills RES and the Dog Unit, two search warrants were executed at a home at Greenacre and a fruit market warehouse at Flemington.
During a search of the Greenacre home, officers seized designer handbags, sunglasses and watches valued at $30,000 and more than $25,000 cash.
Two vehicles, including the Range Rover SUV and a Nissan Skyline GT-R, valued at $160,000, were seized.
Investigators also searched a Dodge SUV towing a boat located near the Greenacre property, where they seized more than 715g of heroin, 315g of methylamphetamine (ice) and 75g of cocaine.
During a search of the Flemington warehouse, police seized a pen gun, ammunition, prescription medication, steroids and nearly 500g of an unknown powder.
In addition, nearly 90g of heroin was located inside a truck at the premises and seized.
All items seized during the operation will undergo further examination.
The Greenacre man was taken to Auburn Police Station, where he was charged with 18 offences including;
- Supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis,
- supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity x4),
- supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity x5),
- supply prohibited drug (x4),
- deal with property proceeds of crime,
- possess unauthorised prohibited firearm,
- possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority,
- not keep firearm safely (prohibited firearm).
He was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court today (Thursday 11 February 2021).
Surry Hills Region Enforcement Squad Commander, Detective Chief Inspector Steve Patton, said investigators had conducted an extensive and thorough investigation into the activities of this criminal enterprise.
"Since inquiries under Strike Force Pangolin commenced, it is alleged this syndicate supplied prohibited drugs worth half a million dollars throughout Sydney," Det Ch Insp Patton said.
"During the course of this investigation, officers identified a man was using his employment as a truck driver to facilitate the movement and supply of illicit drugs from a fruit market in Sydney's inner west.
"It will be further alleged the man was utilising registered post to send cocaine interstate.
"Surry Hills RES investigators have been working collaboratively with our law enforcement partners across Australia as inquiries continue into these alleged activities.
"The NSW Police Force will continue to target those that seek to profit from criminal activities including the supply of prohibited drugs – which as we know, can cause significant damage in the community," Det Ch Insp Patton said.
Investigations under Strike Force Pangolin are continuing, and further charges are expected to be laid.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Pangolin investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
