Man caught using phone while driving leads police to $45m drug bust
A man who was caught using his mobile phone while driving has led police to find almost 90 kilograms of methylamphetamine, with a street value of almost $45 million.
Police pulled the 26-year-old driver over in Haymarket in Sydney’s CBD after he was seen using his phone behind the wheel on Friday.
After searching the man’s vehicle, authorities allege a 3kg bag of ice was found, estimated of having a street value of $1.2 million.
Superintendent Danny Doherty said police grew suspicious of the way the man was acting during the incident.
"His behaviour, mannerisms and certain other information they had formed an opinion they had to search the vehicle - three kilos of ice were allegedly found in the car," he told reporters.
Like a trail of breadcrumbs, the alleged bust led to two more arrests and larger quantities of drugs and cash.
The following day, officers from the Redfern Region Enforcement Squad stopped a man in the western suburb of St John’s Park.
Police allege the 30-year-old was walking along Canberra Street with a suitcase containing 10kg of ice.
The man was arrested before police obtained a search warrant for a home in the same street.
At the house, police seized $1.4 million in cash and arrested a third man, 21, who was taken to Fairfield Police Station.
After further inquiries police set their sights on their next target – a home in Marrickville.
Another 77.6kg of ice was allegedly seized from the property.
"That equates to 900,000 street deals that have been prevented from hitting the streets, with an estimated street value of $45 million. So that's a significant impact on this network,” Supt Doherty said.
"I was there last night, and to see nearly 77 kilos of ice in a room - that's the largest amount of ice I've seen in 31 years in policing."
The 30-year-old man is facing two charges of supply prohibited drug – large commercial quantity and deal in proceeds of crime.
The 21-year-old man has been charged with knowingly dealing in the proceeds of crime and possess a prohibited drug.
Both men will appear at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday afternoon.
The 26-year-old man arrested on Friday was refused bail on Saturday and will appear in court on Thursday.
He is facing charges of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.
