The founding member of a Sydney drill rap group closely linked to OneFour and a number of his associates have been arrested in a series of raids involving heavily armed tactical police in the city’s west.
Police had been investigating western Sydney drill rappers Section 60 and their associates since late last year, and in Tuesday’s operation centred around Penrith and Mount Druitt charged 11 people with various drugs and firearms offences.
Investigators seized six guns, several hundred rounds of ammunition, $43,000 in cash, 3 kilograms of cocaine, 2.6 kilograms of methylamphetamine, 644 grams of cannabis, and 126 grams of MDMA. They also seized a so-called dedicated encrypted criminal communication device, which are illegal in NSW, and a taser.
Section 60 founder Viliami Eteaki, 25, was arrested at a South Penrith home on Tuesday afternoon. He was hit with 23 charges including drug and firearm supply charges and knowingly directing a criminal group, and refused bail to appear in Penrith Local Court on Wednesday.
In nearby St Marys, brothers Sione and Fisiinaua ‘Noah’ Maile were arrested in a raid on their home.
Sione, 27, was charged with four drug supply and possession offences, dealing with proceeds of crime and breaching his bail. He appeared in Penrith Local Court on Wednesday.
Heavily armed tactical police arrest Benedix Faner-Villegas at a home in Colyton on TuesdayCredit: Police Media
Fisiinaua, 39, was taken to Springwood Police Station and charged with drug supply and failing to comply with a digital evidence order. He was also charged with acquiring a gun while subject to a firearm prohibition order and possessing an unregistered firearm. He fronted Penrith Local Court on Wednesday.
Also appearing in Penrith Local Court on Wednesday is 25-year-old Benedix Faner-Villegas, who was arrested at a home in Colyton near Mount Druitt. He was charged with 15 offences relating to the supply and possession of drugs and firearms and participating in a criminal group.
At another address in Colyton, Ethan Chatto, 30, was arrested and charged with supplying a prohibited firearm to an unauthorised person, supplying ammunition and participating in a criminal group. He faced Penrith Local Court on Wednesday.
Paul Taakimoeaka, of Blackett, is facing 17 charges relating to drugs and firearm supply and possession, as well as participating in a criminal group. The 27-year-old appeared in Mt Druitt Local Court on Wednesday.
During a raid on a home in nearby Oxley Park, detectives arrested Georgia Valesini, 22, and her boyfriend Jake Soesa, 27.
Valesini was charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of drugs, participating in a criminal group and dealing with the proceeds of crime. Soesa is facing eight charges relating to drug supply, possession of ammunition, dealing with the proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group.
Both faced Penrith Local Court on Wednesday.
Twenty eight-year-old Heleina Cowan was arrested at Rooty Hill and hit with nine drug and firearm supply charges and participating in a criminal group. She fronted Mount Druitt Local Court on Wednesday.
All 11 were bail refused to return to court later this month or in May, with Valesini flagging she will apply for bail on Thursday.
Images from Section 60’s social media show the group is closely associated with OneFour.
One image taken at the Parramatta Correctional Centre, which closed in 2011 and is now a tourist attraction, shows a number of men wearing green outfits in front of imposing sandstone walls. “S.60 supporting the brothers @onefour_official video shoot yesterday, stay tuned for this banger,” reads the caption.
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