Four men have been charged following a multi-agency investigation into an alleged drug supply syndicate operating on the state's Central Coast.
In late 2022, detectives from the National Anti-Gangs Squad (NAGS) – comprising officers from the State Crime Command's Criminal Groups Squad and Australian Federal Police (AFP) – commenced an investigation under Strike Force Spartan into an alleged organised criminal syndicate facilitating the supply of prohibited drugs, mainly cocaine, on the Central Coast.
As part of ongoing investigations, strike force detectives executed a search warrant at a storage facility in Berkeley Vale on Wednesday 15 March 2023.
During the search, police located and seized approximately 3.6kg of cocaine, 500ml of GBL (gamma-butyrolactone), 200ml of human growth hormone, 3.1kg of cannabis, drug paraphernalia, and a money counter.
All items were seized for further forensic examination.
Following further investigations, strike force police and NAGS officers – assisted by Raptor North and the Public Order and Riot Squad – executed four simultaneous search warrants at homes in Ourimbah, Empire Bay, Berkeley Vale, and Chittaway Bay, from 6am on Thursday (30 March 2023).
During the warrants, police located and seized seven firearms, two gel blaster pistols, 500 rounds of ammunition, motor vehicles, electronic devices, steroids, prohibited drugs including cocaine, heroin and cannabis, cash, documentation, clothing and items consistent with the manufacture of prohibited drugs.
The items will undergo further examination.
At the Berkeley Vale home, police located an inactive clandestine laboratory. NSW Fire and Rescue HAZMAT crews deemed the site safe, before it was dismantled by specialist police from the State Crime Command's Chemical Operations Unit.
Investigators seized items consistent with the manufacture of prohibited drugs, glassware and prohibited drugs. They will undergo forensic examination.
Four men were arrested and taken to Gosford and Woy Woy Police Stations.
A 38-year-old man from Ourimbah was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug – large commercial quantity, supply cannabis, supply prohibited drug, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and possess unregistered firearm.
A 27-year-old man from Empire Bay was charged with supply prohibited drug – large commercial quantity, supply cannabis, supply prohibited drug, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, recklessly deal with the proceeds of crime and possess prohibited drug.
The pair appeared before Gosford Local Court on Friday (31 March 2023), where they were both formally refused bail with the younger man to reappear at the same court on Thursday 6 April 2023, while the older man will reappear at the same court on Friday 26 May 2023.
A 39-year-old Berkely Vale man was charged with 15 offences including supply prohibited drug – large commercial quantity, supply cannabis, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, possess unauthorised pistol and recklessly deal with the proceeds of crime.
A 38-year-old man from Chittaway Bay was charged with 10 offences including supply prohibited drug – large commercial quantity, supply cannabis, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority and possess unauthorised firearm.
They both appeared before Wyong Local Court on Friday (31 March 2023), where they were formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Tuesday 16 May 2023.
Anyone with information about organised crime and drug supply is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
