Organised Crime Squad detectives have extradited a man from Queensland, one of two people charged following an investigation into alleged commercial drug supply around Australia under Strike Force Maimura.
Strike Force Maimura is a joint investigation between State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission – with assistance from the Australian Federal Police, Western Australia Police and Queensland Police – which identified a criminal group allegedly involved in drug supply across Australia using private planes and encrypted devices (DECCDs).
From 9am yesterday, (Tuesday 27 February 2024), strike force detectives executed search warrants at Bankstown Airport, Sans Souci and homes at Burleigh Heads and Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast.
A light aircraft was seized at Bankstown Airport and a vessel at Sans Souci for forensic examination.
As part of inquiries, a 35-year-old man was arrested at Burwood and taken to Burwood Police Station.
At Burleigh Heads, electronic devices were seized, and a 55-year-old man was arrested and taken to Southport Police Station where the NSW arrest warrant was executed.
Police will allege in court that in August 2023 the two men were involved in the planning and transporting of 16kg of methylamphetamine and 5kg of MDMA – with a combined estimated potential street value of $5 million – from Sydney to Perth, Western Australia.
The younger man was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug – large commercial quantity.
He appeared at Burwood Local Court yesterday where he was formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Wednesday 24 April 2024.
Organised Crime Squad investigators applied for and were granted the older man’s extradition in Southport Magistrates Court.
He was escorted by detectives to Sydney today (Wednesday 28 February 2024) and taken to Mascot Police Station where the warrant was executed for the offences of supply prohibited drug – large commercial quantity and knowingly direct activities of criminal group.
The man was refused bail to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 29 February 2024.
