NSW Police have arrested a man and a woman wanted over alleged drug importation offences, following investigations into an organised criminal syndicate operating between NSW and Queensland.
In September this year, officers attached to Richmond Police District established Strike Force Pinkett to investigate the alleged importation of cocaine from the United Kingdom to Northern NSW.
Throughout the investigation, Strike Force Pinkett detectives were assisted by the Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police Services' Gold Coast Joint Organised Crime Task Force.
Since inception, detectives have seized nearly 1.1kg of cocaine, with an estimated street value of over $300,000.
Following extensive inquiries to locate a 33-year-old man and 31-year-old woman, arrest warrants were issued for the pair over alleged drug importation offences.
About 8.45am yesterday (Tuesday 21 December 2021), detectives arrested the man and woman at a home on Mclelland Road, Barkers Vale.
They were taken to Lismore Police Station, where the warrants were executed.
The man and woman were each charged with import marketable quantity of border controlled drug, attempt to possess marketable quantity of unlawful import border control drug, deal with proceed of indictable crime and, direct activities of criminal organisation.
They were both refused bail and are due to appear at Byron Bay Local Court today (Wednesday 22 December 2021).
The NSW Police Force would like to thank all partner agencies for their assistance thus far.
Strike Force Pinkett investigations are continuing.
Anyone with information that may assist strike force investigators 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.
