Organised Crime Squad detectives have charged a second man following the discovery of a clandestine lab in Sydney’s west under Strike Force Springfield.
Strike Force Springfield was established by State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad, with assistance from the NSW Crime Commission, to investigate Organised Criminal Networks (OCNs) allegedly involved in the manufacture of prohibited drugs.
During the investigation, detectives identified a criminal network importing glassware consistent with the manufacture of prohibited drugs.
Those enquiries led police – with assistance from the Public Order & Riot Squad – to execute a search warrant on Tiger Street in Silverdale about 11.30am on Friday 9 August 2024.
An active clandestine laboratory was located and specialist police from the Drug and Firearms Squad’s Chemical Operations Unit, the Technical Forensic Support Unit and NSW Fire & Rescue were engaged to assess the size of the clandestine lab before they dismantled it.
Police located and seized large quantities of precursor chemicals, various solvents, glassware, and large amounts of suspected prohibited drugs including 1.3kg of methamphetamine, 6.6kg of MDMA, and over 500kg of unknown liquids.
Police also seized eight cannabis plants, a 3D printer, a Glock pistol and firearm parts.
A 30-year-old man was arrested and charged the same day and remains before the courts.
Following further extensive inquiries, about 7.15am on Tuesday 22 October 2024, strike force detectives – with assistance from the Queensland Police Service – executed two search warrants in Tugun and Elanora in Queensland.
During the searches, police located and seized two semi-automatic rifles, two sawn off shot guns, an air rifle, firearm parts, gel blasters, two tasers, cash, a vehicle, and 1.5kg of methamphetamine.
A 56-year-old man was arrested and taken to Tweed Heads Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of take part manufacture prohibited drug >= large comm qty
The man was refused bail and appeared before Murwillumbah Local Court yesterday (Thursday 24 October 2024).
