The underworld “government” that allegedly ran Sydney’s illicit cocaine trade under the moniker of “The Commission” worked in a structured, complex way that prioritised remaining anonymous and unobtrusive as they supplied dealers around the city, investigators say.
Detectives began investigating the role of a 21-year-old man and his associates in cocaine supply in the city in April this year.
They arrested a 21-year-old man in Guildford on Thursday, July 25.
Police allegedly found a kilogram of cocaine on his person and another 12kg in a nearby car.
The street value of the drugs was estimated at more than $20 million.
The man was charged with drug dealing and being part of a criminal group.
He was refused bail in court and is due to reappear today.
After this arrest, police established Strike Force Barograph to investigate the alleged cocaine syndicate.
Detectives allege the group known as “The Commission” directly controlled the price of cocaine in Sydney through the manipulation of the supply and that they supplied over 1.2 tonnes of cocaine to the state between February and July this year.
The estimated street value of the cocaine supplied was more than $1.8 billion, and was enough for six million individual street deals.
Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, head of the Organised Crime Squad, said The Commission was an alliance of high-level organised crime groups who worked together to dominate and manipulate Sydney’s cocaine market.
“We’re alleging that this syndicate was extremely disciplined and coordinated,” he said.
“These people were very structured and specialised in what they did.”
Notably, members of The Commission – including a controller, a cocaine distributor, and a network of runners, remained anonymous to the multiple organised crime groups they supplied around Sydney.
“They focus on being anonymous around the transaction,” he said.
Police carried out 20 search warrants at homes across Sydney at about 6am yesterday.
During the searches, detectives seized 20kg of cocaine allegedly found in a bag that was thrown over a fence, 10 cars, $800,000 in cash, a Rolex watch, four guns, two ballistic vests, and multiple electronic devices.
The cars were taken to Bass Hill Police Station where officers allegedly found over 12kg of cocaine stored in hidden compartments.
The combined street value of the cocaine located was estimated to be more than $55 million.
Following the search, strike force detectives arrested six men – a 25-year-old Bankstown man, a 26-year-old Granville man, a 27-year-old Glenfield man, a 26-year-old Bankstown man, a 34-year-old Villawood man, and a 33-year-old Denham Court man.
They have all been charged with multiple offences.
Detectives will allege in court this group supplied over $1.8 billion worth of cocaine to Sydney over a four-month period and that the group directly controlled that supply to increase their profits.
Police will further allege the group used a sophisticated system of hidden compartments in vehicles to hide and transport the cocaine.
Faux said it’s believed the six men were part of The Commission.
“The history of The Commission is complex and there is a lot of narrative around that,” he said.
“A lot of people claim to be part of The Commission and those claims are false, it’s just a fear factor.”
However, he said, the way this group operated set them apart.
“The methodology that they were using, it’s clear that it’s consistent with being part of the Commission,” he said.
Their methodology, their professionalism, and the complexity around this crew is all consistent with being part of the Commission.”
NSW Police Force Commissioner Karen Webb APM said detectives from across State Crime Command have dismantled one of the largest threats to community public safety, the mass supply of cocaine.
“Police today have uprooted allegedly one of the most dangerous and destructive groups Sydney has seen to date,” Commissioner Karen Webb said.
“I am confident that today’s arrests will make the community safer and make this dangerous drug harder to find.”
Faux said the arrests were some of the most consequential in the organised crime underworld.
“We have just taken out the group that has allegedly played the role of government, bank and economy to Sydney’s criminal underworld,” he said.
“These arrests today will result in many criminals becoming unemployed as the large-scale drug supply that finances their crimes dries up.”
The strike force’s investigation continues.