Drugs and Firearms Squad detectives have charged two men and dismantled a clandestine lab in Sydney’s west under Strike Force Kota.
Strike Force Kota was established by State Crime Command’s Drugs and Firearms Squad and the Region Enforcement Squad Bankstown in May 2023 to investigate the prohibited manufacture and supply of drugs.
Following extensive inquiries, about 11.20am on Thursday, June 22, strike force detectives – with assistance from the Public Order and Riot Squad – executed a crime scene warrant at an alleged clandestine lab on Southee Circuit, Oakhurst.
A 54-year-old man was arrested nearby and was taken to Granville Police Station.
During a search of the lab, police located $10,550 in cash and approximately 1687g of methylamphetamine – estimated to have a street value of $2 million.
Specialist officers from the Drug and Firearms Squad’s Chemical Operations Unit, Forensic Evidence and Technical Services (FETS) and the Fire and Rescue NSW HAZMAT team were called in to assist in processing and dismantling the lab.
About 11.50am, strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – arrested a 51-year-old man on Melton Street in Granville, before he was taken to Granville Police Station.
A short time later, they executed a search warrant at a home on Osgood Street, Guildford, where officers located and seized $8,565 in cash.
Both men were charged with ‘manufacture prohibited drug >= large commercial quantity’, ‘supply prohibited drug >= large commercial quantity’, and ‘deal with property proceeds of crime’.
They were refused bail, with the older man to appear before Blacktown Local Court today and the younger man to appear before Parramatta Local Court today.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.