[h=1]Trade in drugs, steroids is personal: trainer Lee Clark of Fitness First Bondi Platinum allegedly involved in drug distribution[/h]
POLICE believe a personal trainer at an elite Sydney gym, arrested following the discovery of $600,000 worth of drugs, is one of the eastern suburbs’ major players in cocaine, steroids and ecstasy distribution. Lee Clark, who worked out of the Fitness First Bondi Platinum gym at Bondi Junction, was arrested allegedly in possession of $155,000 in cash as well as the major quantity of drugs.
Bondi Platinum is used by Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman when they are in Sydney but is not under investigation.
It is understood Clark’s client list will also be scrutinised as part of ongoing inquiries by detectives. Clark was a franchisee personal trainer who has since been suspended by Fitness
First, which is assisting police.
TWO ARRESTS, DRUGS SEIZED AS POLICE SMASH MAJOR OPERATION
Clark came to light during an investigation by Operation Polaris, a joint task force between the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and Australian Crime Commission investigating organised crime on the Sydney waterfront.
The 37-year-old Clark kept a low profile and was not a target of the investigation, codenamed Nagami, but was linked to a man working on the Sydney waterfront who was allegedly involved in the supply of illicit drugs.
“The quantities seized lead us to believe this is a major drug distribution ring in the eastern suburbs,’’ said Detective Superintendent Nick Bingham, Commander of Polaris.
“Part of the ongoing investigation will be the supply network involved in the alleged drug syndicate.”
Clark, a UK national who has been living in Australia for the past two decades, was arrested at his Randwick apartment three weeks ago. A Vaucluse man was also charged with a number of drug related charges and granted bail.
Clark was refused bail on March 27 on charges of trafficking in marketable quantity of a controlled drug and dealing with the proceeds of crime to reappear before the courts in June.
Police allege a rented garage in Sutherland St, Paddington was used as a “safe house’’ to store the drugs where they found nearly 1kg of MDMA, capable of producing about 4000 ecstasy tablets with an estimated street value of $200,000, 500g of cocaine with a street value of $400,000, a large amount of prescription medication, a large amount of steroids, cash, a hydraulic press and other items believed to have been used in the manufacture of illegal drugs were seized by police.
They also impounded $155,000 cash, $120,000 of which was found in a safety deposit box at a storage facility at Camperdown.
A unit on Kimberley St, Vaucluse was searched and a small amount of methylamphetamine, steroids, electronic equipment and identification documents were found.
At Clark’s St Marks Rd unit in Randwick they allegedly found numerous resealable bags containing powder (suspected of being an illicit drug), prescription drugs, a large amount of steroids, cash, electronic equipment and financial documents.
Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian
POLICE believe a personal trainer at an elite Sydney gym, arrested following the discovery of $600,000 worth of drugs, is one of the eastern suburbs’ major players in cocaine, steroids and ecstasy distribution. Lee Clark, who worked out of the Fitness First Bondi Platinum gym at Bondi Junction, was arrested allegedly in possession of $155,000 in cash as well as the major quantity of drugs.
Bondi Platinum is used by Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman when they are in Sydney but is not under investigation.
It is understood Clark’s client list will also be scrutinised as part of ongoing inquiries by detectives. Clark was a franchisee personal trainer who has since been suspended by Fitness
First, which is assisting police.
TWO ARRESTS, DRUGS SEIZED AS POLICE SMASH MAJOR OPERATION
Clark came to light during an investigation by Operation Polaris, a joint task force between the NSW Police Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and Australian Crime Commission investigating organised crime on the Sydney waterfront.
The 37-year-old Clark kept a low profile and was not a target of the investigation, codenamed Nagami, but was linked to a man working on the Sydney waterfront who was allegedly involved in the supply of illicit drugs.
“The quantities seized lead us to believe this is a major drug distribution ring in the eastern suburbs,’’ said Detective Superintendent Nick Bingham, Commander of Polaris.
“Part of the ongoing investigation will be the supply network involved in the alleged drug syndicate.”
Clark, a UK national who has been living in Australia for the past two decades, was arrested at his Randwick apartment three weeks ago. A Vaucluse man was also charged with a number of drug related charges and granted bail.
Clark was refused bail on March 27 on charges of trafficking in marketable quantity of a controlled drug and dealing with the proceeds of crime to reappear before the courts in June.
Police allege a rented garage in Sutherland St, Paddington was used as a “safe house’’ to store the drugs where they found nearly 1kg of MDMA, capable of producing about 4000 ecstasy tablets with an estimated street value of $200,000, 500g of cocaine with a street value of $400,000, a large amount of prescription medication, a large amount of steroids, cash, a hydraulic press and other items believed to have been used in the manufacture of illegal drugs were seized by police.
They also impounded $155,000 cash, $120,000 of which was found in a safety deposit box at a storage facility at Camperdown.
A unit on Kimberley St, Vaucluse was searched and a small amount of methylamphetamine, steroids, electronic equipment and identification documents were found.
At Clark’s St Marks Rd unit in Randwick they allegedly found numerous resealable bags containing powder (suspected of being an illicit drug), prescription drugs, a large amount of steroids, cash, electronic equipment and financial documents.
Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian
