NSW Police have cracked down on suspected members of organised crime networks, conducting raids in Sydney’s inner-west yesterday.
Officers seized $30,000 in cash during raids in St Georges Crescent in Drummoyne, as part of two Firearm Prohibition order compliance checks on Thursday.
Multiple surrounding streets were shut down while officers conducted the raids between 6.30pm and 8.30pm.
Residents had been stopped and harassed by criminal network members while walking through Drummoyne, triggering the searches, Raptor Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis said.
“This is just one ongoing strategy that Raptor squad use to target OCN and their associates… we won’t allow criminal networks in (residents) community,” he said.
“Our job isn’t just reacting to crime after it happens but stopping it from happening before it has a chance to.”
Seven people and five vehicles were also searched, while over 100 neighbours were spoken to by Police.
“We do that through proactive operations like this; focusing on firearm compliance, vehicle searches, and talking directly to residents – who shouldn’t have to feel threatened just by where they live.
“A lockdown like this takes a double-barrelled approach; to both rattle the OCN associates, and to reassure the community we are listening, and we are there for them.”
Several police squads were involved in the raids, including the State Intelligence Command, Traffic & Highway Patrol, Aviation Command, Marine Area Command, and the Dog Squad.
