A 49-year-old Nigerian national awaiting deportation from Australia and another man have been charged after police busted an alleged $9 million drug operation running out of an immigration detention centre in Sydney.
NWS Police in a statement on Saturday, July 27, 2024, said they stormed Villawood Detention Centre, where they allegedly found two kilograms of meth worth $165,000 hidden inside porridge boxes.
The Nigerian national, Dirichukwu Patrick Nweke, was arrested on July 11 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.
Police alleged that Nweke was using an encrypted messaging service and 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 Nigerian man in detention, and charged him with a range of offences.
“During the search, police located 750g of methylamphetamine and 90g of heroin in a toilet bowl, in what police will allege was an attempt to dispose of the drugs,” detective superintendent Peter Faux said at a press conference.
“Police also located and seized $325,000 in cash and a Dedicated Encrypted Criminal Communication Device.”
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.”
Nweke appeared in Bankstown Local Court on July 12 and was refused bail while the alleged runner faced court on the same day as his arrest.
