Dirichukwu Patrick Nweke, a 49-year-old Nigerian immigration detainee, and his accomplice have been charged with running a drug ring after police raided the alleged $9 million narcotics operation at Sydney’s Villawood Immigration Detention Centre.
According to New South Wales Police on Saturday, organised crime investigators claim Nweke used an encrypted messaging service and formed a network of runners outside the detention centre, whom he coordinated and tasked with dealing large amounts of methylamphetamine and cocaine throughout Sydney.
On July 11, officers discovered three cell phones while searching a unit at the correctional institution. Subsequent searches discovered 2 kg of methylamphetamine and $169,000 in cash, which had previously been seized by officers, police said Saturday.
Nweke has been accused of numerous charges, including leading a criminal organisation and providing a large commercial amount of banned narcotics.
Detectives uncovered 750 grammes of methylamphetamine and 90 grammes of heroin in a toilet bowl during a search of a Liverpool residence on Wednesday.
The heroin find was purportedly an attempt to dispose of the drugs, with more heroin discovered on the bathroom floor. Police also retrieved $325,000 in cash and an encrypted electronic gadget.
A 24-year-old man accused of being a runner for Nweke was detained and charged with distributing illegal substances, joining a criminal organisation, and other charges.
During a news conference, Detective Superintendent Peter Faux stated, “During the search, police discovered 750 g of methylamphetamine and 90 g of heroin in a toilet bowl, which they will argue was an attempt to dispose of the drugs.
“Police also located and seized $325,000 in cash and a Dedicated Encrypted Criminal Communication Device.”
Police claimed this week’s operations resulted in the destruction of three independent syndicates throughout the city, with the street value of the recovered drugs topping $9 million.
“The street value of those drugs which we’ve seized is more than $9 million,” Faux added.
Nweke appeared in Bankstown Local Court on July 12, while the suspected runner did so on the same day he was arrested.
Both suspects were refused bail after brief court appearances.
