Nigerian National Arrested for Allegedly Operating $9 Million Drug Ring in Australia
A 49-year-old Nigerian man facing deportation from Australia, along with another individual, has been charged following the dismantling of an alleged $9 million drug operation linked to an immigration detention center in Sydney.
On July 27, 2024, New South Wales (NSW) Police announced they had raided Villawood Detention Centre, where they purportedly discovered two kilograms of methamphetamine, valued at $165,000, concealed within porridge boxes.
Dirichukwu Patrick Nweke, the Nigerian national in question, was arrested on July 11 and taken to Bankstown Police Station. He faces multiple charges, including supplying an indictable quantity of prohibited drugs, supplying a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs, and directing a criminal group.
Police allege that Nweke utilized an encrypted messaging service to manage a network of distributors outside the detention center, coordinating their efforts to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine across Sydney.
Following the detention center raid, police executed further searches in both eastern and western Sydney. In Liverpool, authorities claim that a drug runner attempted to flush 750 grams of methamphetamine and 90 grams of heroin down the toilet as officers arrived. An additional 90 grams of heroin was reportedly found on the bathroom floor, and $325,000 in cash was discovered at the property.
A 24-year-old man, alleged to be a runner for Nweke, was also arrested and charged with several offenses. Detective Superintendent Peter Faux confirmed that during the operation, police uncovered 750 grams of methamphetamine and 90 grams of heroin in a toilet bowl, which they believe was an attempt to dispose of the evidence. In addition, they seized $325,000 in cash and a dedicated encrypted communication device.
This operation led to the dismantling of three separate drug syndicates across the city, with the total street value of the seized drugs estimated to exceed $9 million.
Nweke appeared in Bankstown Local Court on July 12, where he was denied bail. The alleged runner faced court on the same day as his arrest.
