Six Sydney men have been charged over their alleged links to a multinational drug network, responsible for the attempted importation of over 300kg of methamphetamine into New South Wales.
Since 2021, NSW Police, along with other criminal task forces and international agencies have been tracking the movements of drug rings looking to import illicit substances into Australia.
As part of ongoing investigations, a number of raids were executed across 13 properties in Western Sydney yesterday in the early hours of the morning.
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Police found and seized more than $1.2 million cash, a rifle, ammunition, gold bullion, cigarettes, cocaine, MDMA, cannabis, steroids, electronic devices, cryptocurrency wallets, and documents.
Five men - whose ages range from 30 to 44 - were arrested during the raids.
Later that day, a "controlled delivery" was observed by police, eventually leading to the discovery of a further $1.4 million in cash.
A 28 and 32-year-old were arrested at the scene, however the older man was later released.
Simultaneously, authorities in the US conducted their own raids, where 128kg of methamphetamine, 55kg of crystal MDMA, 18kg of cocaine, and approximately US$15,000 ($10,000) was seized in Los Angeles.
The combined street value of the drugs is estimated to be well over $300 million Australian dollars.
It is believed a 33-year-old Earlwood man used his job to monitor consignments arriving in Sydney.
"Organised criminal networks are usually notoriously competitive for control in the illicit drug trade; however, what we have seen through this operation and other intelligence, is that some members of OCNs are working collaboratively to bring drugs into our country," Detective Superintendent Peter Faux said.
"While the different methods of concealment aren't new, it's the level of involvement from various criminal syndicates to bring in shipments which is of note."
The five men have been charged with various offences and are all due to face court in the coming weeks and months.
Since 2021, NSW Police, alongside the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), Australian Border Force (ABF) officers and the United States Homeland Security have been working collaboratively to intercept drugs headed for Australia.
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Prior to yesterday's raids, officers had intercepted and seized about 220kg of methamphetamine in Los Angeles, bound for Australia, about 60kg of cocaine at a Sydney freight depot concealed inside pieces of machinery, and $960,000 cash.
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