Former Olympic swimmer Scott Miller has been charged with directing a $2.2million ice syndicate as police storm his home
Stunning footage has emerged of police busting down the door of Olympic swimmer Scott Miller as he is charged with directing a $2.2million ice syndicate and commercial drug supply.
Police stormed the one-time athlete’s apartment in Sydney’s inner west just after 6am on Tuesday, scouring his Rozelle unit for evidence as Miller, 45, sat slumped on a chair, shirtless.
During the hours-long raid officers allegedly seized a kilogram of heroin worth up to $250,000, wads of $50 and $100 notes totaling $75,000, mobile phones and a white Toyota Camry.
Police allege the one-time swimming golden boy sought to smuggle $2million worth of drug ice to towns in regional New South Wales by concealing it in candles.
Miller, a silver medalist in the 100m butterfly at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, was spirited away to Newtown Police Station where he was charged late on Tuesday afternoon.
A source familiar with the investigation said Miller refused an interview with police. He did not appear at Newtown Local Court when the case was briefly managed today. His solicitor Hugh Salter didn’t apply for bail and it was formally refused.
A 47-year-old business associate of Miller’s, Wayne Allan Johnson, was likewise charged with participating in a criminal group and a drug charge, and a business premises in Bankstown was raided. He appeared briefly in the dock, did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.
Miller sat slumped in a chair, shirtless, as police searched his apartment in Rozelle, in Sydney’s inner west, just after dawn on Tuesday morning
On the march: Miller (left and right) was allowed to put on a striped polo shirt, handcuffed and taken to Newtown Police Station
This image shows the type of candle Miller’s syndicate allegedly used to smuggle the $2.2million worth of ice. Police claim the drug was moulded into the candle’s glass shell
Police will allege that a kilogram of heroin and $75,000 worth of cash were found in Miller’s property (in bags on left). On right, an officer carries out a set of scales
Bundles of $50 and $100 notes were clearly visible through in police evidence bags
About a dozen officers participated in the raid on Miller’s home. Above, two officers carry regulation cardboard evidence bags out to waiting police cars
More and more evidence: Police carry out the end result of their search of Miller’s Rozelle home
At Miller’s apartment block, more than a dozen officers were seen meticulously sorting through Miller’s possessions throughout the morning.
Officers were seen lifting Miller’s mattress and inspecting a packet of anti-inflammatory medication as his pet pug waddled excitedly around the unit.
One policeman was pictured carrying a set of scales out of the property.
The investigation into Miller began just weeks ago, after police discovered a shipment of candles where each allegedly contained half a kilogram of high-quality methamphetamine. The substance was moulded into glass containers.
In what may well be an understatement given his door was bashed in with a battering ram, Drugs and Firearms Squad commander John 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
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 has admitted having troubles in his personal life in recent years.
During an interview with 60 Minutes in 2014 he admitted he was battling a drug addiction.
He worked as a drug awareness and prevention speaker with the Church of Scientology’s Narconon program, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Miller is also known for his brief marriage to Sydney socialite and TV presenter Charlotte Dawson in 1999 and 2000. Dawson died by suicide in 2014 following a despicable trolling campaign.
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 just three weeks – but has never updated his profile.
A source close to Miller said he had been working for a shipping business until recently.
Both Miller and Johnson’s cases returns to Newtown Local Court on April 13. Further charges are expected to be laid.
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