A sweep of arrests in Sydney has put an end to the activities of a high-profile criminal group on Australian shores, police say.
Officers charged 16 people, executed 18 search warrants and seized three guns in raids across the south-west of the NSW capital yesterday morning.
It followed the shutdown earlier this month of 26 alleged drug-run phones connected to more than 50,000 customers.
Police allege the “masterminds” of the operation were arrested in yesterday’s raids, which involved 250 officers.
Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said this morning’s activities have eliminated what was left of the alleged criminal network in Australia.
“In May 2022, we targeted this group through Strike Force Sugarcane; charging 41 people and forcing many players overseas,” Hudson said.
“Today’s operation has cleaned up what was left of them on our shores.”
Commander of State Crime Command’s Criminal Groups Squad, Detective Superintendent Grant Taylor, said the conflict between this criminal group and its rival has been resolved as a result of these arrests.
“The antagonism between this criminal network and its rival came down to drugs and the territorial need to control the drug trade in certain parts of Sydney,” Taylor said.
“But with those phones now out of play – and a number of those alleged to have had control of those phones behind bars – we anticipate that conflict has been eradicated.”
Detectives also seized three guns, large quantities of drugs, knives, cars, luxury goods and $60,000 in cash.
Investigations under Strike Force Wessex continue.
