The police chief tasked with dismantling sophisticated cocaine syndicates operating out of Sydney’s ritzy eastern suburbs says buying cocaine is ‘just like ordering pizza’.
Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bell said almost one kilogram of cocaine had been seized by police in an operation specifically targeting the dealers.
Police Strike Force Northrop, which has been in full force since last year, has led to the arrests of 79 alleged cocaine dealers.
‘It’s just like ordering a pizza,’ Inspector Bell told Nine News who were granted permission to film his team carrying out a number of arrests.
‘They ring up, order the cocaine and it gets delivered to a location.’
‘While the demand is high, we’ll continue to run these types of investigations.’
79 people have been arrested in Sydney as police sting targets ‘dial-a-dealer’ cocaine syndicates
The syndicates are alleged to have used a central phone number for customers to contact and organise a drug drop at a location of their choice
Inspector Bell on Friday said his team had retrieved about 2000 phone numbers from the alleged cocaine dealers’ phones.
Alleged customers whose numbers were saved in confiscated phones received a surprising text message from NSW police.
‘This phone number has been ID’d as part of a NSWPF Cocaine investigation in the Sydney area. If you have any information please contact Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000.’
Whilst people were under no obligations to respond to the text message, police were encouraged by the fact that some did.
Detective Bell says contacting people at the bottom of the syndicate has the potential to open up an array of new leads, and develop current cases.
Almost an entire kilogram of cocaine, with a street value of $300,000 has been seized
Police Strike Force Northrop are continuing to work on dismantling the elaborate cocaine syndicate
As well as the cocaine kept off the streets and people arrested, over $177,000 has been seized.
In the second phase of the operation, which is currently in motion, undercover officers track and watch deals as they occur.
The team is divided, with some being on foot and others in a car.
In separate motions, the two teams engage the two participants. One group takes the seller whilst the other confronts the buyer.
In a single bust, police seized 25 bags of cocaine worth $7500.
The success of the operation speaks for itself, with rumours swirling that it will soon be implemented in busting ice dealers across New South Wales.
The second phase of the operation is targeting both dealers and their buyers
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