Two men have been charged after police busted an alleged $9 million drug operation running out of an immigration detention centre in Sydney.
Police said they stormed Villawood Detention Centre, where they allegedly found two kilograms of meth worth $165,000 hidden inside porridge boxes.
The 49-year-old Nigerian national was arrested and taken to Bankstown Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of supply indictable quantity of prohibited drug, supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug and direct criminal group.
The man allegedly had established a network of runners outside the detention centre, who he coordinated and tasked to distribute meth and cocaine throughout Sydney.
Police then raided addresses in Sydney’s east and west.
In Liverpool, police alleged a drug runner tried to flush 750 grams of meth and 90 grams of heroin down the toilet when officers came knocking.
A further 90 grams of heroin was allegedly found on the bathroom floor and $325,000 in cash found at the property.
Police arrested a 24-year-old man, who they allege was a runner for the older man in detention, and charged him with a range of offences.
Police said this week’s efforts led to three separate syndicates dismantled across the city.
“The street value of those drugs which we’ve seized is in excess of $9 million,” detective superintendent Peter Faux said at a press conference today.
Both men have been refused bail ahead of their next days in court.
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