Australian police are attempting to seize a house in Sylvania, NSW, after a stash of drugs, cash and replica weapons were found in various rooms hidden behind a bookshelf.
Police allege the property was being used by a Sydney-based Colombian gang for drug trafficking purposes and are now treating the house as an "instrument of crime".
The property was raided in 2017, and a 45-year-old man was charged with multiple drug-related offences, including supplying cocaine, possessing cannabis amd dealing in proceeds of crime with a value over $100,000.
The man was sentenced to three years and six months in prison with a non-parole period of two years and four months.
Police returned to the house on July 11 in an attempt to gather further evidence, alleging the property was used as an "instrument of crime" and initiating court proceedings to confiscate the house.
"The ability to confiscate items used in the commission of crimes sends a clear message to the criminal underworld – if you commit the crime, we are prepared to target your assets," says AFP Coordinator Criminal Assets Litigation Penelope Kelton.
"Drug-related crime puts a great strain on the community through increased health care costs, associated property crime and other forms of violence. It is only reasonable that police can fight back on behalf of the community by targeting those who seek to profit from inflicting this misery."
Newshub.
