Nigerian national Dirichukwu Patrick charged with orchestrating major drug syndicate from Australian detention centre

Australian police have charged Dirichukwu Patrick Nweke, a 49-year-old Nigerian national, with operating a high-level drug ring from within the confines of the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre in Sydney’s west.

Nweke is accused of using an encrypted messaging service to manage a sophisticated network of drug runners, dealing significant quantities of methylamphetamine.

According to a police statement, Nweke’s alleged criminal activities were uncovered following a comprehensive investigation by organised crime units. During a search of his detention unit on July 11, authorities discovered three mobile phones believed to be instrumental in coordinating the illicit drug operations.

Nweke faces multiple severe charges, including directing a criminal group and supplying a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs. The scale of the operation was highlighted by previous police seizures, which included two kilograms of methylamphetamine and $169,000 in cash linked to the syndicate.

The investigation, conducted under the auspices of Strike Force Brevifolia, revealed the extent of Nweke’s network. Detectives, with assistance from the Australian Border Force (ABF), traced the syndicate’s operations back to the detention centre. Nweke is alleged to have orchestrated drug transactions through a network of runners who carried out his directives.

Further details emerged following a search of a property in Liverpool last Wednesday, where detectives found 750 grams of methylamphetamine and 90 grams of heroin concealed in a toilet bowl, an apparent attempt to dispose of the drugs. Additional heroin was discovered on the bathroom floor, along with $325,000 in cash and an encrypted electronic device. Police released footage showing riot squad officers breaking down the door and uncovering $50 notes stacked in a cardboard box, underscoring the financial magnitude of the operation.

In addition to Nweke, a 24-year-old man alleged to be a runner for the drug syndicate was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including supplying a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group. Both individuals were denied bail following their court appearances, reflecting the gravity of the charges.

The NSW Police Force highlighted the ongoing efforts to dismantle organised drug networks operating within and outside detention facilities. The use of encrypted messaging services has posed significant challenges for law enforcement, necessitating advanced strategies to disrupt communication channels and target key individuals coordinating illegal activities.

Strike Force Brevifolia, established by the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad and the NSW Crime Commission in May 2024, continues to investigate various criminal networks supplying large commercial quantities of drugs across New South Wales. The case against Nweke and his alleged accomplices underscores the complex and evolving nature of contemporary drug trafficking operations.