Another 18 men have been arrested in South Australia as part of ongoing Operation Ironside investigations, including two who have been charged with false imprisonment.

Key points:

  • The men, ranging in age from 30 to 50, have been charged with offences including drug trafficking and money laundering
  • Police searched six properties today
  • They seized guns, and small amounts of cannabis and steroids

The arrests come amid a wave of SA Police raids across Adelaide, with six properties today searched in relation to what police described as drug trafficking and money laundering activities.

Police allege the men “utilised the AN0M encrypted messaging platform” to organise the crimes.

Eight firearms were seized during the searches, as well as small amounts of cannabis and steroids, and 300ml of the drug fantasy.

Two men — a 31-year-old from Para Hills and a 35-year-old from Magill – were arrested yesterday and charged with offences including false imprisonment and aggravated assault causing harm.

Police allege the crimes date back to April 2019.

Another 16 men ranging in age from 30 to 50 have also been arrested and charged with various crimes, including money laundering, and will appear in court on Thursday.

Police allege the men were involved in the manufacture and trafficking of illicit drugs — mostly methamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA.

“Taskforce Ironside investigators are continuing to analyse large volumes of messaging sent over the AN0M encrypted communications platform,” Detective Chief Inspector Darren Fielke, from SA Police’s Serious Organised Crime Branch, said.

“This work has uncovered evidence of additional offending including large commercial drug trafficking and manufacture and money laundering and has resulted in a number of arrests being made today.”