Australian police charge former Olympic swimmer with allegedly running drug syndicate

Australian authorities on Tuesday charged a former Olympic swimmer with drug trafficking after he allegedly ran a drug syndicate in the state of New South Wales.

Officials arrested Scott Miller, 45, at his home after they seized $1.6 million worth of methamphetamine stored in eight candles, according to a police statement.  

“For all intents and purposes, they looked like regular candles but they weren’t laced with fragrance, they were laced with death and misery,” Police Detective Superintendent John Watson said, according to CNN affiliate Nine News.  

Watson said Miller, who is referred to only as “Rozelle man” in the release, was the leader of the criminal group, according to The Associated Press. He was taken to Newtown Police Station and charged with supplying a prohibited drug and directing a criminal organization. 

“Others, it will be alleged, are working under his instruction,” he said.

An unidentified 47-year-old man was also arrested on Tuesday morning and charged with supplying an illegal drug and participating in a criminal group.

New South Wales officials launched an investigation earlier this year into a criminal organization that supplied drugs, including meth, across the state. 

Authorities seized more than two pounds of heroin worth about $195,000, as well as cell phones, documents, encrypted electronic devices and other illegal drugs for forensic examination, according to the release.

Miller won a silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly race and a bronze medal in the 4 x 100-meter medley relay at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.