Muslim preacher Mohammed Junaid Thorne charged with drug and firearm offences

Mohammed Junaid Thorne, 30, another man, aged 49, and a 29-year-old woman are accused of supplying drugs and a in a network operating across Sydney.

The alleged network was uncovered by counter-terrorism police in the course of their investigations, Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Commander Mark Walton said.

“We have many ongoing investigations into people of national security concern and if they branch into high-level organised crime then we will fully investigate,” he said.

“It is not uncommon for counter-terrorism investigations to uncover other serious criminal activity.”

He said there was no terrorist threat linked to the investigation.

Mr Thorne chose to stay in his cell when his case was mentioned briefly in Parramatta Bail Court, and will remain behind bars until he faces court next month.

The 49-year-old from Villawood has been accused of importing a large quantity of illegal drugs and also faces multiple drug supply charges.

Mr Thorne and the woman have been charged with supplying a pistol to a person unauthorised to possess it, and multiple drug-supply offences.

Police have seized 2.5 kilograms of cocaine and 1 kilogram of MDMA, a large amount of cash and a pistol, over the course of the investigation.

The trio were arrested in different locations across Sydney early yesterday.

Source: ABC