Review of the Police Powers (Drug Premises) Act 2001 - NSW ...

Case study 2.
Drug premises search warrant application, western Sydney LAC B
An operation in response to the proliferation of drug related criminal activity involving drug manufacturing in western Sydney was
initiated by western Sydney LAC B.
Phase 1 of this operation involved the execution of drug premises search warrants on a number of premises. In the early stages of
the operation, police had utilised existing intelligence holdings to identify a number of premises within the suburb that were and still
are actively engaged in the sale, distribution and/or manufacture of prohibited drugs, principally amphetamines but also including
heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis.
Police then applied for drug premises search warrants in respect of a series of premises. We received three drug premises search
warrant applications from this operation. Operational Orders described the broader objectives of the operation as including
the discovery of evidence that each of the target premises are drug premises and the detection and prosecution of any person
suspected of having committed any offence under the Act. These operational orders illustrated the two-stage process in gathering
evidence that premises are drug premises that was referred to in the drug premises training manual discussed previously in this
chapter.
One of the applications police from this operation contained the following information:
Police had received information from a source two weeks prior to the date on the search warrant application, that occupant A
of the premises was to receive a large quantity of amphetamine and firearms that were intended both for further sale and for the
purpose of protecting his drugs and drug proceeds against other criminals. A week later, police received information from an
anonymous source that a number of motor vehicles had been seen arriving at his house, and leaving a short time later.
Police then set out intelligence information dating back to the middle of that year, about both the premises and occupant A. Just
over a month before the warrant application, police received information from a well connected source that a person, by the same
name as their suspect, had been dealing amphetamines from the same house. Similar information had also been received two
months earlier. Information about the premises had also come from community sources. In addition, a Crime Stoppers call
passed on information that despite recent police raids on the property, business, presumably the sale of prohibited drugs was still
continuing from the same.
Overall, police stated that they had received a total of 63 drug related intelligence reports about the premises over the past year
and a half. The applicant also noted that previous warrants executed on the premises had indicated to police that the suspect and
his girlfriend had assets which were inconsistent with their unemployed status.
Case study 3.
Further drug premises search warrant application, western Sydney LAC B
Another drug premises search warrant application we received in relation to this Operation in western Sydney, relating to premises
A, contained the following information:
The search warrant applicant first notes that police had recent information that amphetamines and cocaine were sold in quantities
of up to a quarter of an ounce from premises A. Police also had:
… reliable information from a verified source who has recently witnessed the occupant of the address, [name of occupant]
supplying amphetamines from this location.
The applicant notes that above information is also supported by a separate verified source.
Further, it is noted that about four months earlier, the occupant’s car was seen parked outside the address (premises B) of a
reputed supplier of amphetamines. A search warrant had been executed on premises B two months later, and 50 grams of
amphetamines, drug related implements and an unlicensed semi-automatic handgun had been found.
Two reports about the occupant of premises A that were received from anonymous sources are also mentioned. These dated back
approximately one year before the drug premises search warrant was applied for. One report had indicated that occupant A was
selling amphetamines to children as young as twelve.
Finally, the search warrant application notes that police had reports that linked the occupant of premises A to the sale of prohibited
drugs as far back as 1999, and that the occupant had also been convicted of supplying cannabis in 1998.
NSW Ombudsman
Review of the Police Powers (Drug Premises) Act 2001 45