Ten men have been arrested and three firearms have been seized following investigations into drug supply on the Central Coast.
Strike Force Evenstar was established in November 2013 by officers from Brisbane Water Local Area Command to investigate the ongoing supply of prohibited drugs across the Central Coast. Throughout the investigation, police identified a number of separate syndicates supplying cannabis, cocaine and methylamphetamine. Following a police operation on Wednesday, June 18, two men were arrested by detectives at Woy Woy. A 49-year-old Ettalong Beach man was charged with numerous drug supply offences, possess unlicensed firearm and participate in criminal group.
He was refused bail and appeared at Gosford Local Court today on Thursday, June 19. A 31-year-old Umina Beach man was charged with supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity), possess prohibited drug and participate in criminal group. He has been granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Woy Woy Local Court on Tuesday, July 8. Following the arrest, police executed 11 search warrants at properties across the Central Coast, including Ettalong Beach, Umina Beach, Springfield, Narara, Kincumber, Mardi, Kariong and Tuggerah. Police located and seized three firearms, including two pistols and a shot gun; cocaine, methyl–amphetamine, cannabis, cash, mobile phones, handcuffs and drug paraphernalia. Officers also discovered a clandestine drug laboratory at one of the Springfield properties, with equipment police will allege was used in the processing of illicit drugs.
The house was examined by officers from the Chemical Operations Unit before being declared safe. Investigators and specialist forensic officers are continuing examinations of the property. A further eight men were arrested during the operation. A 25-year-old Ettalong Beach man was charged with supply prohibited drug and possess unauthorised pistol. He has been granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Woy Woy Local Court on Tuesday, July 8. A 38-year-old Umina Beach man was charged with supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity) and participate in criminal group.
He has been refused bail and appeared at Gosford Local Court on Thursday, June 19. A 70-year-old Springfield man was charged with drug supply offences and possess unauthorised pistol. He has been granted strict conditional bail and appeared at Gosford Local Court on Thursday, June 19. A 48-year-old Springfield man was charged with supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity) and five counts of possess prohibited drug.
He has been granted strict conditional bail to appear at Gosford Local Court on Tuesday, July 15. A 49-year-old Narara man was charged with cultivate prohibited plant, possess prohibited drug and deal with property suspected proceeds of crime. He has been granted strict conditional bail to appear at Gosford Local Court on Tuesday, July 15. A 48-year-old Mardi man was charged with drug supply. He has been refused bail and appeared at Gosford Local Court on Thursday, June 19. A 42-year-old Kincumber man was charged with supply prohibited drug. He was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice to appear at Gosford Local Court at a later date.
A 47-year-old Kariong man was issued a cannabis caution. Brisbane Water Local Area Commander, Superintendent Daniel Sullivan, commended the work of officers involved in the investigation. “We established Strike Force Evenstar to investigate and disrupt illegal drug supply in our community,” Supt Sullivan said. “The dedication and determination of our investigators enabled them to infiltrate a number of drug syndicates across the Central Coast.
“We are confident today’s arrests will seriously disrupt the supply of drugs in our area and put these syndicates out of business. “Illegal drugs are the scourge of our society and we will continue to work around the clock to rid the local area of this sort of activity but we need the support of community to help us succeed.
“Any information you provide, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could help us get gang members and drugs off our streets. “The message is clear: if you want to deal drugs in our community, we will hunt you down, arrest you and put you before the courts,” Supt Sullivan said. The investigation by Strike Force Evenstar continues and further charges are expected.
Media release, 19 Jun 2014
NSW Police Media