OMEN
06-13-2006, 07:36 AM
A COCAINE laboratory capable of producing hundreds of kilograms of the drug has been uncovered in a western Sydney factory.
Acting on a tip-off from the public, Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers yesterday raided five homes in the Sydney suburbs of Campsie, Redfern, Newtown, Waterloo and Chatswood, as well as a factory in St Marys.
A cocaine press, chemicals and other drug-producing paraphernalia were found in a sophisticated laboratory set-up at the factory.
Up to 8kg of cocaine in block and powder form were seized in the residential raids, as well as $234,000 in cash.
Five people were arrested by police.
AFP national border manager Mike Phelan said the raids had disrupted a major alleged drug syndicate with some significant players."The uncovering of this drug laboratory and the charging of four men and one woman linked to the laboratory will have a significant impact on Sydney's illicit drug trade," Mr Phelan said.
A 49-year-old Redfern man was charged with trafficking commercial quantities of controlled drugs, dealing in proceeds of crime and possessing a trafficable quantity of border-controlled drugs reasonably suspected of having been unlawfully imported.
A 46-year old St Marys man was charged with trafficking commercial quantities of controlled drugs while another man, 32, of Campsie, was charged with possessing commercial quantities of border-controlled drugs reasonably suspected of having been unlawfully imported.
A man and woman, aged 23 and 50, of Chatswood and Newtown respectively, were both charged with dealing in proceeds of crime.
The AFP alleges that two of the men and the woman were sending money, believed to be proceeds of cocaine trafficking, to offshore bank accounts controlled by syndicate members.
All five are expected to appear in Central Local Court this afternoon.
AAP
Acting on a tip-off from the public, Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers yesterday raided five homes in the Sydney suburbs of Campsie, Redfern, Newtown, Waterloo and Chatswood, as well as a factory in St Marys.
A cocaine press, chemicals and other drug-producing paraphernalia were found in a sophisticated laboratory set-up at the factory.
Up to 8kg of cocaine in block and powder form were seized in the residential raids, as well as $234,000 in cash.
Five people were arrested by police.
AFP national border manager Mike Phelan said the raids had disrupted a major alleged drug syndicate with some significant players."The uncovering of this drug laboratory and the charging of four men and one woman linked to the laboratory will have a significant impact on Sydney's illicit drug trade," Mr Phelan said.
A 49-year-old Redfern man was charged with trafficking commercial quantities of controlled drugs, dealing in proceeds of crime and possessing a trafficable quantity of border-controlled drugs reasonably suspected of having been unlawfully imported.
A 46-year old St Marys man was charged with trafficking commercial quantities of controlled drugs while another man, 32, of Campsie, was charged with possessing commercial quantities of border-controlled drugs reasonably suspected of having been unlawfully imported.
A man and woman, aged 23 and 50, of Chatswood and Newtown respectively, were both charged with dealing in proceeds of crime.
The AFP alleges that two of the men and the woman were sending money, believed to be proceeds of cocaine trafficking, to offshore bank accounts controlled by syndicate members.
All five are expected to appear in Central Local Court this afternoon.
AAP