Organised Crime Squad detectives have charged two men following the seizure of cash and an amount of methylamphetamine concealed within baby wipes in Sydney's west.
About 7am yesterday (Thursday 20 April 2023), detectives from the State Crime Command's Organised Crime Squad – with assistance from the Raptor Squad – executed a search warrant at a unit on Morton Street, Parramatta, as part of an ongoing investigation.
During the search warrant, police observed items consistent with a clandestine laboratory inside the apartment.
Officers from the Drug and Firearms Squad's Chemicals Operations Unit attended and processed the scene.
A further search of the home located approximately 60 packets of disposable baby wipes, which allegedly were soaked in methylamphetamine oil, close to 700g of methylamphetamine, more than $60,000 cash, mobile phones, and documentation.
A second search warrant was executed at a unit on Alderson Avenue, Liverpool, where police seized further amounts of methylamphetamine, and cash.
All items were sent for further forensic examination.
Two men – aged 33 and 36 – were arrested at the Liverpool unit and were taken to Liverpool Police Station.
Both were charged with supply indictable quantity prohibited drug and knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime.
The older man was also charged with supply commercial quantity prohibited drug, while the younger man was also charged with possess/use a prohibited weapon without permit.
Both men were refused bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court today (Friday 21 April 2023).
Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, said these seizures demonstrate the lengths organised crime syndicates are going to in order to import illicit drugs and avoid law enforcement detection.
"We will allege the clandestine laboratory, while in an inactive state, was contained within a high-rise apartment building. Criminal syndicates are continuing to attempt new ways to conceal the imports, with the intention of extracting the substances and getting them on the streets.
"NSW Police and our law enforcement partners such as the AFP and the ABF remain on the front foot, identifying and targeting these new methods to disrupt their supply chain," Det Supt Faux said.
Anyone with information about drug supply and manufacture that may assist 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.
