Italian drug racket

Police crack gun and drug ring running across Victoria and NSW after early morning raids
Matthew Schulz
From: Herald Sun
March 10, 2010 1:25PM
these criminals were named on the TV news as italians.


POLICE say they have cracked a sophisticated drug and gun racket spread across Victoria and NSW after 19 raids early this morning.
NSW organised crime squad detectives, along with Victoria Police officers, arrested nine people, with several still being questioned, after simultaneous dawn raids.
Police claim the raids follow a lengthy probe in a “highly-organised entity operating under a hierarchical family structure”.
The operation code-named strike force Baranbali has been running since July last year.
The men arrested today ranged from 26 to 69 years of age, all from NSW.
It is understood Victorians are still helping police with inquiries after five search warrants in Mildura this morning.
The raids are continuing, with police so far uncovering guns, drugs including steroids, and a pill-press.
Police are also testing what they believe are precursor chemicals and equipment at several locations used to make drugs.
NSW Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis said the operation had meant “successful inroads into alleged criminal activities on an extensive basis”.