NSW Police Will Continue to Target Illegal Drugs After 108 People Charged

Stock image of cocaine. Stevepb/Pixabay

New South Wales (NSW) Police have vowed to continue to disrupt illegal drug supply after 108 people were charged in Sydney after they undertook targeted “dial a dealer” operation between Nov. 22 and Dec. 7.

While the operation largely targeted the supply of cocaine by syndicates and individuals, police also made charges related to methylamphetamine, ketamine, and cannabis.

Drugs with an approximate street value of $210,000 (US$135,000) were seized, including 560 grams of cocaine, 27 grams of MDMA, 467 grams of cannabis, 450 grams of THC edibles, 3.5 grams of ketamine and 0.7 grams of ice.

Central Metropolitan Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said the Strike Force Northrop operations targeting the distribution of illegal drugs in Sydney would continue for the rest of 2024 and into 2025.

“This operation highlights NSW Police’s commitment to combatting illegal drug supply and I am backing that commitment by ongoing operations targeting suppliers operating in the Central Metropolitan Region,” he said.

“Whether they are major drug suppliers, mid-level or street level, I will continue to put resources into disrupting their operations and prosecuting them for their true criminality.

McKenna said this was an intelligence driven operation incorporating the specialist skills of personnel from all central metropolitan region enforcement squads, traffic and highway patrol command, and the dog squad.

“We opened 2024 with a significant operation targeting major dealers and have continued to put pressure on illegal drug distribution, with these three weekends of action focused on street-level distributors.”

Major Charges

Multiple people aged between 19 and 45 were arrested after police stopped and searched multiple vehicles. They will all face court.

A 19-year-old man was arrested at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 22 after being stopped at Tonkin Street Cronulla. Police found and seized 18 bags of cocaine. He was charged with two counts of allegedly supplying a prohibited drug.

Further, 22 year-old man was arrested at 6 p.m. after being stopped at Hunter Street Sydney. Police found more than $6,000 cash in a hidden compartment, along with 14 bags of cocaine.

“The man was taken to Day Street Police Station where he was charged with six offences, supply a prohibited drug, knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime, deal in proceeds of crime, possess prohibited drug, drive while suspended, and not comply with P1 licence—not display P plates.”

In another case, a 45-year-old woman and 31-year-old man were arrested in Bondi Road, Bondi at 6 p.m. on Dec. 7. Police found 24 bags of cocaine, $3,450 cash, and a knife.

The two were charged with allegedly supplying a prohibited drug, dealing with property prooceeds of crime and custody of a knife in a public place.

In addition, an 18 year-old woman and 21-year-old man were arrested on Dec. 7. Police found $1,415 cash and a can of OC spray, along with 10 bags of cocaine.

“They were taken to Sutherland Police Station where the woman was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug, and one count each of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, and deal with property proceeds of crime,” police said.

Police Now have New Knife ‘Wanding’ Powers

Meanwhile, police powers to target knives with electronic metal detecting wands came into force on Dec. 9.

Officers ranked Assistant Commissioner or higher can approve the use of these at public transport precincts, shopping centres, and sporting venues.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said he knew these new laws would be inconvenient for people, but they cannot take chances when it comes to public safety.

“These new laws which start this week are about ensuring the public feels safe, and secondly and perhaps most importantly, to change the culture,” he said.

“To send a strong message to young people in particular, if you’re going to go out at night, don’t take a knife with you because there’s a very good chance, you’ll be wanded or scanned at a New South Wales train station.”

The NSW Opposition called for these laws in April following the Bondi stabbing rampage and stabbing of a Bishop in Wakeley.

“The powers should be designed in the interests of public safety and to protect people who are lawfully going about their everyday lives. There are many circumstances where these powers would enhance public safety,” the Opposition said at the time.

The Opposition offered to work with the NSW government in a bi-partisan manner to urgently legislate broad wanding measures to support public safety.

“The NSW Opposition notes that there is widespread support for these powers from a range of organisations, including the Police Association and a range of public service trade unions, which support an expansion of police search powers to include the use of metal detecting wands,” Opposition leader Mark Speakman, Shadow Attorney General Alister Henskens, and Shadow Police Minister Paul Toole said in early 2024.