A man is due to appear in Liverpool Local Court today after 3kg of cocaine and a loaded handgun was seized as part of a joint operation between the New South Wales Police Force (NSWPOL) and Australian Border Force (ABF).
Officers attached to the South West Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad (RES) Wetherill Park have been investigating the supply of methyl amphetamine and cocaine within the Sydney area by an organised syndicate since 2016, under the auspices of Strike Force Brownbear.
The ABF has been working with Strike Force Brownbear to identify consignments linked to the operation and last Thursday (19 April 2018), ABF officers intercepted 3kg of cocaine in an air cargo consignment in Sydney.
As a consequence of further investigations, three people were arrested yesterday (Monday 23 April 2018), when ABF and NSWPOL officers executed search warrants at homes in Bossley Park and Wetherill Park.
Police will allege when the home at Marvell Road, Wetherill Park was searched they located the suspect package, a loaded handgun, ammunition, ecstasy tablets, vials of anabolic steroids, restricted prescribed tablets, and mobile phones.
A 24-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Liverpool Police Station where he was charged with five offences:
- Import commercial quantity of border-controlled drug
- Possess unregistered firearm
- Possess unauthorised pistol
- Not keep firearm safely
- Possess ammunition without holding a licence.
He was refused bail to appear in Liverpool Local court later today (Tuesday 24 April 2018).
A 20-year-old man arrested during a vehicle stop in a Wetherill Park shopping centre, has been charged with possession of a prohibited drug. He is due to appear in Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday 16 May 2018.
A 20-year-old woman arrested at the Bossley Park home, has been released pending further inquiries.
Since 2016, Strike Force Brownbear has executed six search warrants resulting in the seizure of almost 15kg of methylamphetamine, more than 18kg of cocaine, 15,500 ecstasy tablets, 52g of heroin, a 357 calibre revolver with 10 rounds, a .40 calibre semi-automatic pistol with 13 rounds, a Glock model 34, a Norinco MP29 handgun, two other handguns, and more than $300,000 in cash. As a part of these seizures, six people have been charged in relation to large commercial drug supply and firearms offences.