Drug syndicate busted! Four men charged with multiple offenses

Drug syndicate busted! Four men charged with multiple offenses

A shocking drug bust has rocked the Central Coast, as police charge four men for their involvement in a drug supply syndicate. The National Anti-Gangs Squad, along with the Criminal Groups Squad and Australian Federal Police, began investigating the organized criminal syndicate in late 2022 under Strike Force Spartan. And now, after months of intense investigations, the police have finally made their move.

In a daring raid, strike force detectives executed a search warrant at a storage facility in Berkeley Vale on Wednesday 15 March 2023. And what they found was staggering! The police discovered 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.

But the police didn’t stop there. 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 daring raids, the police 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 police also discovered an inactive clandestine laboratory at the Berkeley Vale home, where they seized items consistent with the manufacture of prohibited drugs, glassware, and prohibited drugs.

The police have arrested and charged four men, and they have been 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.

Meanwhile, a 39-year-old Berkeley Vale man was charged with 15 offenses, 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. And a 38-year-old man from Chittaway Bay was charged with 10 offenses, 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 license/permit/authority, and possess unauthorized firearm.

The accused appeared before Gosford Local Court and Wyong Local Court on Friday (31 March 2023), where they were formally refused bail. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages but to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Remember, information is treated in strict confidence.