<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>334915</docID> <postdate>2024-12-09 09:28:51</postdate> <headline>More than 100 arrested in dial-a-dealer busts</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-292298" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Hemp_plants-cannabis_sativa-single_3-resized-e1693999309280.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>A police strike force targeting illegal drug distribution has busted open dial-a-dealer schemes.</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Neve Brissenden</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>More than 100 alleged drug dealers have been arrested in a statewide sting operation, with cars, cash and drugs seized.</strong></p> <p>Between November 22 and December 7, NSW police arrested and charged 108 people as part of a strike force aiming to bust open dial-a-dealer schemes predominantly related to cocaine.</p> <p>Of these, 64 were charged with supplying a prohibited drug, 44 were charged with drug possession offences, and one person was also charged with domestic violence-related crimes.</p> <p>More than $20,000 worth of drugs were seized, including 560g of cocaine, 78 MDMA caps, weed, ketamine and ice.</p> <p>Almost $99,000 of cash and several cars were also seized.</p> <p>Among those arrested was a 22-year-old man found driving around Sydney CBD with 14 bags of cocaine and thousands in cash and a Cronulla teenager found with 18 bags of cocaine and charged with two counts of drug supply.</p> <p>A Korean national was also arrested in Sydney's CBD with 21 bags of cocaine and 60 MDMA caps.</p> <p>In Sydney's east, a 26-year-old man was arrested with cocaine and cash hiding in a hidden compartment, while a 45-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were found driving down Bondi Road with 24 bags of cocaine, more than $3000 in cash and a knife.</p> <p>NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said operations targeting the distribution of illegal drugs in the Sydney area will continue.</p> <p>"Whether they are major drug suppliers, mid-level or street level, I will continue to put resources into disrupting their operations and prosecuting them for their true criminality," he said.</p> <p>"We opened 2024 with a significant operation targeting major dealers and have continued to put pressure on illegal drug distribution, with these three weekends of action focused on street-level distributors."</p> <p>The police operation will continue into 2025.</p> </body>