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Four Sydney taxi drivers ​arrested over alleged cocaine delivery service Four Sydney taxi drivers ​arrested over alleged cocaine delivery service
(about 3 hours later)
Four taxi drivers who allegedly ran a cocaine delivery service doing hundreds of 1g cocaine deals each week in Sydney have been arrested.Four taxi drivers who allegedly ran a cocaine delivery service doing hundreds of 1g cocaine deals each week in Sydney have been arrested.
The four drivers, all men in their 30s, were arrested in dawn raids of five homes where a “significant” quantity of cocaine, a stash of money and guns were seized, police said.The four drivers, all men in their 30s, were arrested in dawn raids of five homes where a “significant” quantity of cocaine, a stash of money and guns were seized, police said.
Related: Sydney man becomes oldest person charged with cocaine smuggling – at 91Related: Sydney man becomes oldest person charged with cocaine smuggling – at 91
Superintendent David Donohue of the Sydney city local area command said police would allege the group used text messages to communicate with their customers and then deliver the drugs.Superintendent David Donohue of the Sydney city local area command said police would allege the group used text messages to communicate with their customers and then deliver the drugs.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a new norm but it is a novel way of getting your drugs, something I, in my career, haven’t experienced this way of distributing drugs,” he said.“I wouldn’t say it’s a new norm but it is a novel way of getting your drugs, something I, in my career, haven’t experienced this way of distributing drugs,” he said.
Police will allege the group was doing hundreds of deals each week.Police will allege the group was doing hundreds of deals each week.
Donohue said police had been investigating the syndicate since July but were still trying to establish how long it had been running for.Donohue said police had been investigating the syndicate since July but were still trying to establish how long it had been running for.
The men’s vehicles were seized for forensic analysis.
“Their licences and issues around their taxi licences will be forwarded to the relevant authorities for them to investigate,” Donohue said.
He said the arrests should act as a warning to anyone thinking of running or already running a similar service.He said the arrests should act as a warning to anyone thinking of running or already running a similar service.
“We’re aware of your methodology and we have very good investigators and investigators’ techniques to investigate these things and you will be caught,” he said.“We’re aware of your methodology and we have very good investigators and investigators’ techniques to investigate these things and you will be caught,” he said.
The raids took place in Auburn, South Granville and Guildford and were part of the police operation Strike Force Illinoi.The raids took place in Auburn, South Granville and Guildford and were part of the police operation Strike Force Illinoi.