Strike Force Buckwong: WA Police arrest six people after cross-country operation ‘disrupts meth ring’

Guns, drugs and hundreds of thousands in cash has been seized as part of a joint police operation dismantling a Sydney-based drug syndicate allegedly worth millions and responsible for funnelling methamphetamine into WA. As part of Strike Force Buckwong, which was created in December 2023, WA Police’s drug and firearm squad executed seven raids on properties in both metropolitan and regional areas on November 13. Police said more than 10kg of meth, $620,000 in cash and two guns were seized during the raids. Three men and three women, who were all based in WA, are now facing a string of serious charges. Several cryptocurrency wallets — allegedly used to launder drug sales — have also been frozen by police. On the same day, NSW organised crime detectives stopped a car in Condell Park, 21km south west of the Sydney CBD, before over $60,000 in cash and a small amount of drugs were allegedly found in the vehicle. NSW Police allege the driver was collecting money on behalf of the leader of a Sydney based criminal syndicate — who had helped orchestrate the smuggling of drugs into WA before laundering cash made from the illegal sales. A 38-year-old man, the alleged leader of the group, was charged after being arrested at a property in Prairiewood on November 13. NSW Police allege they had already seized 6km of ice linked to the man. The 29-year-old driver of the car has been charged and will next front Bankstown Local Court in December. Police said they have already seized $1.3m in cash linked to the group and that more than 54km of meth had already been sneaked into WA. NSW Police have already charged nine people as part of Strike Force Buckwong. WA Police have arrested 54 people, seized over $9 million in cash, 52kg of drugs and taken 14 guns off the streets during cross-border drug stings — which includes Operation Kingston. NSW Organised Crime Commander Detective Superintendent Peter Faux said “no border can shield criminal activity from the long arm of the law.” “The successful interdiction of this cross-border drug operation is a testament to the seamless cooperation and coordination between our state police forces,” Det Supt Faux said. Acting Detective Superintendent Jeff Beros, of the WA Police serious and organised crime crime division, said the recent arrests marked a “significant disruption” to a network “causing harm to our community”. “We will continue to work closely with NSW Police and our other partners to bring anyone operating a criminal drug and organised crime network to justice,” he said.