Successful Disruption of Transnational Organised Crime Network in NSW

The New South Wales (NSW) Police have announced a significant disruption of a transnational organised crime network that operated extensively throughout the Sydney south-western region and the Illawarra area. This extensive operation, conducted over a period of 11 months, signifies a notable victory for law enforcement.

Details of the Operation

Kickstarting in December 2022, the operation, named Strike Force Heradale, has led to the arrest of 19 individuals and the seizure of cannabis valued at over $80 million. Detective Superintendent John Watson, the director of the State Crime Command Drug and Firearm Squad, revealed the details of this operation in a press briefing held in Parramatta.

Detective Watson emphasized the complexity and organisation of the crime syndicate:

“There is no question in our minds that they were well organized; they were well financed.”

He elaborated on how the syndicate sourced talent from overseas, especially Vietnam, solely for the purpose of cultivating cannabis for profit.

Raids Across Sydney and Illawarra

The investigation primarily focused on the large-scale cultivation of cannabis by a sophisticated syndicate, which set up multiple hydroponic farms. The extensive operation comprised a series of coordinated raids across various locations in Sydney and Illawarra.

Notably, the first significant arrests occurred in April 2023 at a property in Kemps Creek, where officers executed a search warrant that uncovered over 4,400 cannabis plants nestled in 16 purpose-built greenhouses. The swift action led to the arrest of three individuals present at the scene.

The initiative continued with a major raid in May at a Calderwood property in Shellharbour, resulting in the seizure of 366 kilograms of harvested cannabis and the arrest of ten suspects, including six men and four women. A further raid in June at Bringelly resulted in the discovery of 6,500 cannabis plants. Though no arrests were made then, the premises were revisited in October, revealing a revival of cannabis cultivation with 7,472 plants seized, valued at approximately $22 million. One suspect was arrested while allegedly tending to the plants during this operation.

Another noteworthy operation occurred in September at Rossmore in Western Sydney, where police seized another 4,000 plants and apprehended three men.

Key Breakthrough and Arrests

A pivotal moment in the operation came in November, when two men identified as the main orchestrators of the syndicate were arrested in Canley Vale. At the time, more than 220 kilograms of cannabis were in the process of being packaged, along with the confiscation of over $240,000 in cash.

These individuals faced numerous charges, including those related to the cultivation and supply of large commercial quantities of prohibited drugs. Both men were denied bail at Fairfield Local Court.

According to Detective Superintendent Watson, the culmination of efforts in this extensive operation led to 19 arrests, the seizure of over 23,000 cannabis plants, and the recovery of more than half a tonne (586 kg) of cannabis, all amounting to an estimated street value exceeding $80 million.

Conclusion

The operation under Strike Force Heradale exemplifies a large-scale industrial crime syndicate’s preparedness to implement multiple operational sites simultaneously while transferring their workforce as needed. While this operation has successfully disrupted significant parts of the narcotics network, authorities remain vigilant, asserting that their investigations are ongoing.

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