NSW:Driver unaware he was carrying 11kg of ice

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2011
NSW:Driver unaware he was carrying 11kg of ice

SYDNEY, Feb 16 AAP - A Sydney courier had no idea he was delivering 11 kilograms of
the drug ice when his van was stopped and raided by investigators of a major drug racket,
police say.

Luxury cars, almost $900,000 cash and more drugs were also allegedly uncovered during
further raids on properties in the city's east amid a long-running Middle Eastern Crime
Squad investigation.

The breakthrough came on Tuesday when the van was raided on George Street at The Rocks
but police said the driver was simply a courier who had nothing to do with their investigation.

The estimated street value of the drug ice, which police say was bound for Sydney's
streets, is $4.4 million.

An Audi four-wheel drive and $880,000 in cash was discovered at a Vaucluse home and
another search at a Bondi unit uncovered 170 grams of ice, $8,000 in cash and new model
Bentley and Mercedes, police said.

Two men were later arrested in separate locations in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

A 35-year-old man and a 24-year-old man faced Waverley Local Court on Wednesday on
charges including supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

Neither of the accused applied for bail and it was formally refused by Magistrate Jacqueline
Milledge.

Solicitor Stephen Alexander, for the older man, told the court the facts were sketchy
but it appeared a police strike force had begun investigating his client in October 2009.

Mr Alexander and solicitor Paul McGirr, who was representing the younger man, asked
for police evidence including surveillance or video footage.

The matter has been adjourned to March 31 at Sydney's Central Local Court.

Before the court hearing, Detective Superintendent Deborah Wallace told reporters it
would be alleged "the van had received a pick-up and was on its way to another location".

"The driver of the van was simply a courier. He was not involved in any way, shape
or form in this investigation."

Minister for Home Affairs and Justice Brendan O'Connor on Wednesday congratulated NSW
Police and the Australian Crime Commission "on disrupting a transnational drug supply
syndicate".

AAP bzs/klm/dep/de

KEYWORD: ICE WRAP

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