Police have uncovered a highly sophisticated, Sydney-based international crime syndicate believed to be involved in money laundering and drug production.
Police seized significant amounts of cocaine and ice, a number of guns, and a bulletproof vest in a number of property searches across the city this week. At one property, the bomb squad was called to inspect three booby traps, which were found in a gun safe.
Three men were arrested this week as a result of the ongoing investigation into internationally-based money laundering syndicates operating in Sydney
On Wednesday night, police stopped a truck towing a Hyundai iLoad van at Marulan in the Southern Tablelands. Inside they found 8kg of cocaine, 6kg of methylamphetamine, commonly known as "ice", and a Glock pistol.
The gun, which had magazine and ammunition, was one of a number of Glocks illegally imported from Germany.
Shortly after the vehicle search, a 32-year-old man was arrested at a house in Moorebank, and in the early hours of the following morning a 29-year-old was arrested at the same location. They were both taken to Liverpool Police Station and charged with commercial drug supply.
On Thursday and Friday, police then searched five properties in south and south-west Sydney, seizing nine guns and a bulletproof vest, as well as drugs and drug-making equipment. They found cocaine, methylamphetamine, MDMA powder and pills, steroids, a cocaine block press and two old hydroponic cannabis setups.
At one property, specialist police from the Rescue and Bomb Squad inspected three booby traps in a gun safe.
Two cars ??? a Dodge 4WD and a Nissan Navara ??? were also seized for forensic examination.
At one of the properties, in East Hills, a 70-year-old man was arrested and charged with drug possession. He was granted strict conditional bail and will appear at Bankstown Local Court next month.
The men arrested at Moorebank were refused bail and appeared at Liverpool Local Court, where they were formally refused bail to appear at Campbelltown Local Court in May.
The arrests were part of the ongoing Strike Force Bugam investigation between the NSW Police Force, Organised Crime Squad and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. Since June 2016, the task force has arrested and charged nine people.
Organised Crime Squad Commander, Detective Acting Superintendent Wayne Walpole, said in a statement the task force had dismantled a number of groups working together to profit through organised crime.
"The joint investigation is continuing and further arrests are expected. I would encourage those who are expecting us to come forward before we come to you," he said.
ACIC New South Wales State Manager Warren Gray said organised crime was "growing in sophistication and constantly adopting new and advanced technologies to undertake illegal activities".
