Sydney, Dec 20
A Sydney police task force targeting organised crime syndicates has arrested 33 people and seized drugs worth millions of US dollars.
Police in the state of New South Wales (NSW) on Friday said that 33 people had been charged by detectives from Task Force Lupin since it was secretly established in July to address an escalating conflict between organised crime networks hailing from Asia.
In addition to the arrests, police seized prohibited drugs worth more than 10 million Australian dollars (6.2 million US dollars) as well as 600,000 Australian dollars (372,000 dollars) in cash, seven firearms and more than 20 dedicated encrypted criminal communication devices.
Detectives executed over 35 search warrants and identified three clandestine methamphetamine labs, two in western Sydney and one in the remote town of Mollyan over 300 kilometers northwest of the city.
Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, commander of the NSW Police organized crime squad, said the task force worked tirelessly and covertly for six months, news agency reported.