Police arrest ‘cocaine cabbies’ in Sydney

Four taxi drivers have been arrested accused of running a cocaine delivery service across Sydney.

The men are expected to be charged over the alleged criminal syndicate which police claim used taxis to deliver hundreds of one-gram cocaine deals per week to homes throughout Sydney. Each man allegedly conducted 50 to 150 individual drug transactions a day.

“Certainly from our perspective the Sydney CBD was a hot spot”.

“In actual fact, the methodology is similar to lot of business models, whether we deliver pizzas or drugs, it is an unfortunate methodology but makes it accessible to the public and that’s my concern”. “Their licences and issues around their taxi licences will be forwarded to the relevant authorities for them to investigate”, Supt Donohue said. When the taxi driver later approached outside, the customer would step out of the venue and into the approaching vehicle.

“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”, Superintendent Donohue said.

THE four men, aged in their 30s, were arrested in simultaneous raids on five properties on Friday when police seized eight guns, $350,000 cash and cocaine with a street value of more than $90,000.

Police have been investigating a network of taxi drivers for four months as part of Strike Force Illinoi and it’s estimated the cab syndicate was worth more than $70,000 a week in deliveries.

A covert police operation monitored the accused as they allegedly used an SMS service to communicate on deliveries to the city’s most popular pubs and clubs.

A 36-year-old man was arrested at this residence and taken to Auburn Police station, where he was charged with supply drug (commercial quantity); supply drugs on an ongoing basis (three counts); knowingly direct organised criminal group; deal with proceeds of crime; and other ancillary charges.

Police expect to track down those who had used the service in the coming days and weeks.

In the elaborate ruse, the taxi driver would arrive with the cocaine and the client would hop into the cab where the deal would take place as the cab drives around.