NSW Police seized $1.5 million worth of prohibited drugs following a number of search warrants across the Central Coast and Sydney on Wednesday, May 25.
Strike Force Bamberry, comprising offi cers from Brisbane Water Local Area Command, was established in December to investigate the manufacture and distribution of prohibited drugs on the Central Coast. After ongoing investigations, Strike Force detectives arrested a 26-year-old St Clair man about 11:00am on Wednesday, May 25, following a vehicle stop at Kariong. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police located amounts of MDMA, MDA and cocaine, all of which was seized for further forensic examination. He was later charged with seven offences including supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug, supply indictable quantity of prohibited drug and knowingly participate in a criminal group. Two 20-year-old men were also arrested a short time later. One of the men, from Umina, was charged with eight offences including supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group. The second 20-yearold man, also from Umina, was charged with a total of 19 offences including supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug, supply indictable quantity of a prohibited drug and knowingly participate in a criminal group. The trio were all refused bail to appear before Gosford Local Court on Thursday, May 26. Following the arrests, police executed 11 search warrants across properties at Umina, Woy Woy, Horsfi eld Bay and Ettalong as well as a number of Sydney properties at St Ives, Stanhope Gardens, Hornsby and St Clair. They also conducted a search at a home in Pickett’s Valley in accordance with a Firearms Prohibition Order. The operation involved Brisbane Water Police and other Northern Region General Duties offi cers, with assistance from the Tactical Operations Unit, Public Order and Riot Squad, Operations Support Group, Dog Unit, PolAir and Gordon and Penrith Region Enforcement Squad. While executing the warrants, police located and seized amounts of MDMA, MDA, GHB, cocaine, cannabis, methylamphetamine (‘ice’) and steroids with a combined estimated potential street value of more than $1.5 million. A number of further items were seized from the properties, including two vehicles and an extendable baton, which will undergo forensic examination, as well as $125,000 in cash, believed to be the proceeds of crime. Strike Force detectives also identifi ed a storage unit on Bourke Rd, Waterloo, during the operation, where they executed another search warrant. Police uncovered more than 1.5 tons of precursor chemicals at the location, believed to be used in the large-scale manufacture of prohibited drugs. Specialist offi cers are continuing their examination of the unit today. Offi cers will also allege they located items, during the Stanhope Gardens search warrant, that were linked to the Mongols Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. A fourth man and a woman were arrested during the operation, including a 21-year-old Umina man who was charged with a total of 18 offences including supply commercial quantity of prohibited drug, supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug, supply indictable quantity of prohibited drug, and knowingly participate in a criminal group. He was refused bail and was due to face Hornsby Local Court on Thursday, May 26. The 34-year-old woman, of Woy Woy, was charged with fi ve offences of supplying an indictable quantity of prohibited drug. She was granted conditional bail to appear before Gosford Local Court on Tuesday, June 21. Brisbane Water Local Area Commander, Superintendent Danny Sullivan, said the operation was the culmination of several months of investigations. “Strike Force Bamberry detectives have been working incredibly hard for six months, all of which has culminated in search warrants and numerous arrests,” Supt Sullivan said. “It’s clear that those arrested during the operation were members of an elaborate syndicate that had been operating for some time. “I can assure the community that we will continue to hunt down those who seek to manufacture and distribute these substances within our neighbourhoods,” Supt Sullivan said. “These drugs can destroy lives, they’re not only illegal, but they can also be very harmful to your health, if not fatal. “I’d also like to remind members of the public that they should never underestimate the immensely positive impact one anonymous call to Crime Stoppers can make,” Supt Sullivan said. “If you see something you’re concerned about, I urge you to come forward, only then can police take action to make it stop.” Strike Force detectives are continuing their investigations.
Media release, May 26, 2016 NSW Police media