The following is a joint press release from the NSW Police Force and SA Police:
A man has been arrested and charged and a woman will be extradited to South Australia following a collaborative investigation by NSW and South Australia Police into the cross border trafficking of illicit drugs.
In April 2019, Strike Force Arrellah was established by State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad as a joint operation with South Australia Police (SAPOL) to investigate the alleged supply of cocaine.
Yesterday (Wednesday 16 October 2019), about 1pm, police attended a park on Kane Street, Guildford, NSW and arrested a 33-year-old man. A large amount of cash and drugs, believed to be cocaine, were seized.
Search warrants were then executed at three properties, two in Guildford, on Grassmere Street and O’Neill Street and another on Union Street, Granville.
Items seized during the execution of the search warrants included an amount of drugs, believed to be cocaine, and drug paraphernalia.
The man was taken to Granville Police Station and was charged with drug related offences including supplying cocaine.
Police will allege in court that the man was involved in supplying large commercial quantities of cocaine on several occasions between July and October this year.
He was bail refused to appear at Fairfield Local Court today (Thursday 17 October)
About 1.15pm (Wednesday 16 October), a third search warrant was executed in conjunction with South Australia Police Operation Luna at a home on Noble Avenue, Greenacre.
A 40-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Bankstown Police Station.
Officers seized an amount of drugs, believed to be cocaine, and drug related paraphernalia.
An application will be made to Bankstown Local Court today (Thursday 17 October) for her to be extradited to South Australia to face charges regarding the alleged distribution of cocaine.
Meanwhile in Adelaide, detectives from Serious and Organised Crime Branch, assisted by STAR and Firearms Branch searched two addresses in metropolitan Adelaide and made three arrests.
The arrests included a 39-year-old man from NSW, who was charged with seven aggravated counts of trafficking controlled drugs. He is expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today.
Two men from Adelaide were also arrested as part of the operation.
A 46 year-old-man was charged with four aggravated counts of trafficking controlled drugs. He is expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today (Thursday 17 October).
A 30-year-old man was charged with two counts of trafficking controlled drugs. He was granted bail and is expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday 4 December.
Commander of the NSW Police Force’s Organised Crime Squad, Acting Detective Superintendent Damien Beaufils said these arrests are a great example of how a multi-agency response to criminal activity can be extremely effective.
“This was a truly collaborative investigation with our colleagues from South Australia Police,” Acting Detective Superintendent Beaufils said.
“People who choose to break the law, whether that is in NSW or elsewhere, need to know that police will use all the resources available to bring them to justice.”
Detective Chief Inspector Tony Crameri, from SAPOL’s Serious and Organised Crime Branch, said this clearly demonstrated the interagency co-operation which ensures criminals cannot use state borders to avoid detection and apprehension.
“These positive, collaborate policing relationships help protect the wider public from the damage that is used by illicit drug use and those that seek to profit from the misery of others,” he said.
“The community can play their part by reporting information about illicit drug manufacture and trafficking – anonymously if they wish – to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
Investigations are continuing.
