A man will face court after police seized native plants alleged to have been stolen and sold to the public, in the Illawarra.
About 10am yesterday (Wednesday 27 August 2025), officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District with assistance from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water executed a search warrant at a home in Lake Heights.
Officers allegedly located and seized nine native plants – with an estimated value of $10,000 – along with a small amount of cannabis.
A 39-year-old man was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where he was charged with pick a protected plant (nine counts), deal in or attempt to deal in protected plant (nine counts), possess prohibited drug, and goods suspected stolen in/on premises (not motor vehicle).
He was also charged with armed with intent to commit indictable offence in relation to an unrelated incident that occurred on Sunday 6 July 2025 where it is alleged the man threatened a neighbour with a hatchet.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday 10 September 2025.
Police will allege in court the plants were stolen from a National Park north of Wollongong and were being resold online.
