The Organised Crime Squad and NSW Crime Commission have charged three men and seized $4 million in assets believed to be proceeds of crime under Strike Force Lavington.
Strike Force Lavington is a joint investigation targeting a high-profile drug syndicate run out of Harrington Park.
In August 2023, strike force detectives stopped a vehicle on the M1 at Brooklyn. During a search of the vehicle, police located and seized 70 grams of cocaine.
The 66-year-old male driver was arrested and charged with drug supply related offences. He was refused bail and appeared in Hornsby Local Court.
In September 2023, strike force detectives stopped a vehicle near Harrington Park, in which they located 14 grams of cocaine.
The driver, a 49-year-old man, was arrested and charged with drug supply related offences. He was granted conditional bail and appeared at Campbelltown Local Court.
About 12.20pm the next day strike force detectives with assistance from the Dog Squad executed a search warrant in Harrington Park where they arrested a 47-year-old man.
During a search of the property, police located 100 grams of cocaine, 60 grams of methylamphetamine, $7200 in cash, luxury watches worth over $400,000, and a Dodge Ram.
The man was taken to Narellan Police Station where he was charged. He was refused bail and appeared at Picton Local Court.
Following further inquiries into the drug syndicate, throughout the day yesterday (Tuesday, April 9, 2024), strike force detectives with assistance from South West Metropolitan Operational Support Group executed four search warrants in Harrington Park, Ingleburn, Abbotsbury and Bondi.
During the searches, police located and seized a Lamborghini worth $300,000, a VK Commodore Brock special edition racing car worth $500,000, and 1.3kg of methylamphetamine with a street value of $1 million.
With assistance from the NSW Crime Commission, police also froze $3.2 million dollars’ worth of property.
Commander of Organised Crime Squad, Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, said targeting assets is a key focus of the squad.
“We know money and wealth is one of the driving motivators for people who get involved in organised crime, which is why working with the NSW Crime Commission and taking away those assets is so effective,” Det Supt Faux said.
“Targeting and seizing assets is such an important part of our work because it enables us to completely disrupt the activity of alleged criminals and put the onus back on them to prove their goods have been legally obtained.”
