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Former Olympic swimmer Scott Miller (above with partner Michelle back in 2014) has been arrested and is expected to be charged with masterminding an alleged $2million ice syndicate
Olympic swimmer Scott Miller has been charged with allegedly directing a $2.2million ice syndicate with police also claiming to have found $250,000 worth of heroin at his waterfront unit.
Detectives burst down the door of Miller’s luxury waterfront unit in Rozelle, in Sydney’s inner west, about 6am on Tuesday morning.
Authorities alleged the one-time swimming golden boy turned shipping businessman allegedly sought to smuggle $2million worth of the drug ice to towns in regional New South Wales by concealing it in candles.
Investigators believe Albury, a crossroads town on the Victorian border, was a particular focus of a criminal syndicate
Miller was spirited to Newtown Police Station, where a source close to investigation said he refused to speak to detectives about the allegations.
He was charged with supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity) and direct a criminal group.
A 47-year-old business associate of Miller’s has likewise been arrested, and a business premises in Bankstown was also raided this morning.
At Miller’s apartment block, more than a dozen officers meticulously sorted through Miller’s possessions throughout the morning. There, police seized a kilogram of heroin valued at $250,000, over $75,000 in cash, mobile phones, encrypted electronic devices and smaller amounts of prohibited drugs. Scroll down for video
Police will allege that further containers of a drug, believed to be heroin, and wads of cash were found in Miller’s property (all on left). On right, an officer carries a set of scales out
Bundles of $50 and $100 notes were clearly evident through transparent plastic bags carted out by detectives on Tuesday morning
About a dozen officers participated in the raid on Miller’s home. Above, two officers carry evidence bags out to waiting police vehicles
Dozens of bags of evidence were walked from Miller’s Rozelle home late in the morning as police meticulously pored through his possessions
A high-level police source said officers were planning to test the substance they found and believe it to be heroin.
Another officer was pictured carrying a set of scales out of the property – along with dozens of regulation cardboard evidence bags.
Officers lifted Miller’s mattress and inspected a packet of anti-inflammatory medication as his pet pug waddled excitedly around the unit.
The investigation into Miller began just weeks ago, after police discovered candles which allegedly contained half a kilogram of high-quality methamphetamine. The drug was moulded into glass containers and wedged among the candle wax, police claim.
‘For all intents and purposes the candles looked like normal candles, but they were laced with death and misery,’ said Drugs and Firearms Squad commander John Watson.
In what may well be an understatement, Detective Superintendent Watson said Miller had been ‘surprised’ by the dawn raid.
No stone left unturned: A police officer inspected a packet of anti-inflammatory medication during the raid
Police piled up bags of evidence in regulation cardboard carriers outside the luxe Balmain Cove property
Documents and evidence bags were heaped in the back of a waiting NSW Police vehicle
The candles looked like normal candles, but they were laced with death and misery.’
NSW Police Detective Superintendent John Watson
Miller is yet to be charged.
Miller won silver and bronze medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in the butterfly and the 4 x 100m medley relay respectively.
He was briefly married to socialite Charlotte Dawson in 1999 and 2000. She died by suicide in 2014.
Miller has been open about grappling with personal issues.
In an interview with 60 Minutes the same year as Ms Dawson’s death, the athlete admitted he was battling a drug addiction.
This is the luxurious apartment complex – Balmain Cove – which Miller had called home
Police will allege that Miller was directing a syndicate that allegedly planned to ship the drug ice to Albury on New South Wales – Victorian border
Miller was a silver and bronze medallist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games (left, with his 100m butterfly silver). He is the ex-husband of the late socialite Charlotte Dawson (right)
Miller is Australian swimming royalty. In this 2003 photograph, he is pictured back row with Michael Klim and model Sarah Murdoch. Front row includes legendary Olympians Leisel Jones and Petria Thomas (both on right)
Miller is one of the country’s most accomplished butterfly athletes but his troubled private life has been well documented
Five years ago he worked as a drug awareness and prevention speaker with the Church of Scientology’s Narconon program, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The role involved him ‘showing people addicted to drugs or alcohol that there is another way to live life’ and conducting drug interventions.
It is unclear whether he is still involved in the program. Local Scientology officials were approached for comment.
Miller claimed on LinkedIn to have been a business development manager for a company called reinteractive.
However, sources insisted that he only worked very briefly at the business on a trial basis for three weeks but has never updated his profile.
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