The suspected Colombian crime gang active in Sydney had their headquarters in an ordinary suburban home. However, they kept their drug stash in a hidden room behind a false bookshelf.
Sylvania’s $1.6 million home was raided in 2017, which resulted in the seizure of cash, cocaine and other imitation weapons.
Because the home had been purchased with proceeds from crime, it was taken away.
Unusual photos reveal how cocaine smugglers disguised an electric book shelf to conceal an incredible stash of illicit drugs.
This electric door was used for concealment of two rooms that were without windows and filled with normal junk such as paint tins or cardboard boxes, along with illicit drugs.
As part of an investigation on a Colombian organised criminal group, the Australian Federal Police raided the five-bedroom house.
The officers were surprised to discover a bookcase filled with Lonely Planet books, which appeared normal when they entered the property.
This electric door was used for concealment in two rooms that were without windows. It contained cardboard boxes, paint tins, and other household junk.
The AFP released a statement Sunday stating that the rooms were filled with ‘cocaine and cannabis, cannabis resins, cell phones, scales. clip-seal bag, a common substance used to cut drugs. And equipment used for detecting surveillance devices.
The home also contained $130,000 cash as well as two fake firearms.
In addition to $130,000 of cash and 2 imitation guns found in the other areas, officers discovered $130,000 worth of counterfeit firearms.
In April 2017, the Australian Federal Police searched five bedrooms of the property as part of an investigation into Colombian organized crime.
A homeowner was given a sentence of three years, six months and one day in April 2019.
He pleaded guilty now to money laundering and the deemed supply a prohibited substance.
The AFP then placed restraining orders against the property, meaning that it could not be transferred to any other person.
They stated that they had reasonable grounds for believing the home was used to ‘in, or in conjunction with’ drug crimes.
Two men were required to surrender their home to the Commonwealth on Friday after they found it had been used to commit crime.
The AFP released a statement Sunday stating that the rooms were filled with ‘cocaine and cannabis, cannabis resins, cell phones, scales. clip-seal bag, a common substance used to cut drugs. And equipment used for detecting surveillance devices.
It will be sold with proceeds going to the Australian Financial Security Authority confiscated assets account.
The five-bedroom house will be sold, with the proceeds to go to the confiscated assets account managed by the Australian Financial Security Authority.
Stefan Jerga, AFP National Manager Criminal Assets Confiscation Stefan Jerga stated that the raid is an example of the AFP’s dual-pronged approach to organized crime.
The AFP wants to make sure that offenders who are out of jail do not have any criminal proceeds, said Mr Jerga.
‘Law-abiding Australians work hard to buy their first home – they go to work, they pay their taxes and they save up for a deposit. Organized criminals use violence to accumulate their criminal wealth and ignore their greed.
“The AFP will continue causing maximum destruction to the criminal environment, particularly organised criminals who sell misery into communities by selling illicit drugs.