NEWCASTLE – Two women have been charged with dozens of offences after police seized large quantities of drugs, weapons and cash during a major investigation in the Hunter Region.
- Date & Time: Tuesday 12 August 2025, 6:20pm (charges announced 13 August)
- Location: M1 Motorway at Wyong; Newcastle; Mayfield West
- Seized: Cocaine, methamphetamine, GBL, cannabis, MDMA, psilocybin, weapons and cash
- Strike Force: Carrolup, established by Hunter Region Enforcement Squad
- Status: Both accused refused bail; court dates set for 14 and 15 August
Police say the arrests followed an extensive investigation by the Hunter Region Enforcement Squad (RES) into alleged drug supply in the Newcastle area. Strike Force Carrolup was launched in July 2025 to target the network.
On Tuesday evening, RES officers – with assistance from the Hunter DV High-Risk Offender Team and Newcastle City Highway Patrol – stopped a vehicle on the M1 at Wyong at about 6:20pm.
During a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly found 506 grams of cocaine, 12.1 grams of methamphetamine, prescription medication, pepper spray, and $2,325 in cash. Two women, both aged 23, were arrested at the scene and taken to Wyong Police Station.
Further inquiries led police – assisted by Hunter UTAH – to execute two search warrants, one at a Watt Street unit in Newcastle and another at a Riverside Drive unit in Mayfield West.
Police allege the searches uncovered 852 grams of GBL, 658 grams of cannabis, 567 grams of MDMA, 257 grams of cocaine, 122 grams of psilocybin, 60 grams of methamphetamine, prescription medication, a pistol, an electronic stun device, ammunition, and $19,000 cash.
One of the women has been charged with 32 offences, including multiple counts of possessing and supplying prohibited drugs, dealing with property proceeds of crime, possessing prohibited weapons without a permit, and firearms offences. She was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Wednesday, where she was formally refused bail again to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Friday 15 August 2025.
The second woman faces 18 offences, including drug possession and supply charges, driving while disqualified, dealing with property proceeds of crime, and ammunition possession without authority. She was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Wednesday, and is due back before the same court on Thursday 14 August 2025.
Police say the investigation is ongoing.