Two women and a man have been charged following a police raid that uncovered a $17 million dark web drug operation in New South Wales. The syndicate used the postal service to distribute illicit substances across Australia.
Police executed five search warrants on Thursday at about 11am, leading to the arrest of a 25-year-old man from Callala Beach, a 24-year-old woman from Callala Bay, and a 20-year-old woman from Quakers Hill. They were taken to Nowra Police Station and charged.
Police allege the man operated as an online vendor selling MDMA, LSD, methamphetamine and prescription medications, while the two women assisted by packaging and posting the items. Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith described the operation as the first and largest penetration of the dark web in Australia.
During the raids, police seized 2.5kg of suspected cocaine, 200g of MDMA, more than 100,000 LSD tabs, cannabis, pills, and Xanax made to look like candy. Also recovered were over $80,000 cash, electronics, packaging equipment, and three vehicles including a Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Ford Falcon.
Police analysis of cryptocurrency wallets linked to the vendor showed transactions exceeding $17 million in recent years. The arrests follow the establishment of Strike Force Royden in April 2018 to investigate criminal networks involved in drug supply.
