Brisbane, Australia— A drug supply syndicate was busted Wednesday after a special taskforce carried out an armed raid on a suburban residence, ending a six-month covert operation.
Officers from the Drug and Serious Crime Group hit a house in Sunnybank at 5:30 a.m. The raid involved tactical officers, a breaching team, and drug detection dogs. Police used a battering ram to enter. Four people were inside.
Inside, police found 4.2 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.1 kilograms of cocaine, 3,000 MDMA tablets, and $280,000 in cash. The drugs were packed in vacuum-sealed bags inside a bedroom wardrobe. Scales, clip-seal bags, and two money counters were also seized.
Detective Superintendent Craig Morley said the house operated as a distribution hub. He said the syndicate supplied mid-level dealers across south Brisbane and Logan. Phones seized showed daily order lists. One message log listed more than 80 customers.
Three men, aged 24, 29, and 36, and a 26-year-old woman were arrested. All four lived at the address at different times. Police said the group used encrypted messaging apps and rotated burner phones weekly. They rented the house under a false name.
The investigation began in April after a roadside stop uncovered 200 grams of ice. Officers tracked the driver to the Sunnybank address. Surveillance teams then watched the house for months. They logged more than 150 short visits consistent with drug deals.
Neighbors said they noticed heavy traffic at night. Cars would stop for two minutes and leave. One neighbor said she called Crime Stoppers twice. She said she was told police were aware. The street was cordoned until midday Wednesday.
Police also seized two luxury vehicles, a BMW and a Toyota Hilux, believed to be proceeds of crime. A search of the garage uncovered a hidden compartment with a loaded pistol. That firearm will be sent for forensic testing.
The four accused were charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs, and possessing property suspected of being proceeds of crime. They were refused bail. They will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court Thursday.
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