Police allege an immigrant in custody used an encrypted messaging service to traffic drugs and coordinate a drug ring outside the facility.
An immigration detainee and another man have been charged in connection with an alleged drug ring operating from inside a detention center.
Police say Dirichukwu Patrick Nweke, a 49-year-old Nigerian national, was trafficking large quantities of methylamphetamine using an encrypted messaging service from the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney’s west.
Organized crime investigators say he set up and coordinated a network of brokers who carried out transactions on his behalf.
They say three cellphones were found during a search of a unit at the centre on July 11.
Nweke has been charged with multiple offences including leading a criminal group and supplying a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs.
Police said Saturday that officers had previously seized two kilograms of methylamphetamine and $169,000 in cash linked to the syndicate.
On Wednesday, detectives discovered 750 grams of methylamphetamine and 90 grams of heroin in a toilet bowl during a search of a house in Liverpool.
Police say Dirichukwu Patrick Nweke, a 49-year-old Nigerian national, was trafficking large quantities of methylamphetamine using an encrypted messaging service from the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney’s west.
Police allege Nweke used an encrypted messaging service to traffic drugs and coordinate a network of runners out of the facility.
The find is believed to have been evidence of “an attempt to dispose of drugs,” while heroin was also found on the bathroom floor and $325,000 in cash and an encrypted electronic device were also recovered.
Police have released images showing riot squad officers breaking down the door as they begin their search. They have also released an image of $50 bills stacked inside a cardboard box.
Police also arrested a 24-year-old man who was allegedly a runner for the arrested man.
He is charged with two counts of supplying a prohibited drug, participating in a criminal group and other offences.
Both men were denied bail after brief court appearances.
Police have provided an image showing riot squad officers breaking down the door as they begin their search. They have also released an image of $50 bills stacked inside a cardboard box.
Police said Saturday that officers had previously seized two kilograms of methylamphetamine and $169,000 in cash linked to the syndicate.
