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NSW Police have arrested and charged 21 people with 95 offences, following an investigation into the supply of prohibited drugs and illegal tobacco, in the Illawarra region.
In September 2024, Strike Force Lydd was established to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs, mainly methylamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis in Berkeley, Warrawong and Port Kembla.
From Tuesday 19 November 2024 until Friday 22 November 2024, executed a number of search warrants and firearm prohibition orders were executed by officers attached to Southern Region Enforcement Squad with assistance from the Southern Operations Support Group, Southern Domestic Violence High Risk Offenders team, Lake Illawarra Police District, NSW Raptor Squad, Police Transport Command, State Crime Command Financial Crimes Squad, Traffic and Highway Patrol and NSW Dog Unit.
Drugs, knuckledusters, a taser, alcohol and property believed to be proceeds of crime were among the items seized. Illegal tobacco products with an estimated street value of $180,000 were also seized from a store in Warrawong.
As part of four-day operation, officers conducted audits of tobacco stores in the Lake Illawarra Police District. A high visibility operation was also conducted in and around the shopping precincts, public transport locations and licensed premises in and around Warrawong and Port Kembla. Officers attached to State Crime Command Financial Crimes Unit also conducted a number of compliance audits at scrap metal business in the Lake Illawarra Police District.
Notable incidents include;
About 12.15pm on Tuesday a 51-year-old man was arrested at a carpark in Allan Street, Port Kembla. Police allegedly seized drugs on the man. He was transported to Lake Illawarra Police Station and charged with 10 offences – six counts of supply prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug more than or equal to commercial quantity, supply drugs on an ongoing basis and recklessly deal with proceeds of crime more than $5,000. A short time later a search warrant was executed at a home in Port Kembla. Police seized drugs from the home. The man was refused bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday 20 November 2024. He was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on Wednesday 29 January 2024.
About 4.50pm on Tuesday 19 November 2024, a 37-year-old man was arrested at a carpark in McGregor Ave, Barrack Heights. He was conveyed to Lake Illawarra Police Station where he was charged with 8 offences – five counts of supply prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug on an ongoing supply and two counts of possess prohibited drug. A short time later, a search warrant was executed at a home in Mount Warrigal. Police seized cocaine and cash. He was refused bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday 20 November 2024, where he was granted conditional bail to reappear at the same court on Tuesday 3 December 2024.
About 8.45am on Wednesday 20 November 2024, officers attached to Raptor Squad executed a search warrant at a unit in Port Kembla. A 46-year-old female was arrested. Police seized drugs from the home. She was arrested and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where she was charged with 21 offences, including seven counts of supply prohibited drug, supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis and thirteen counts of possess prohibited drug. She was refused bail in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday 21 November 2024, to reappear at the same court on Tuesday 10 December 2024.
About 8.45am on Wednesday 20 November, offices attached to Southern Operations Group and Southern Region Enforcement squad executed a search warrant at a Warrawong unit. A 24-year-old man and 23-year-woman were arrested and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station. The man was charged with five counts of supply prohibited drug, supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis and possess a prohibited drug. He appeared before Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday 20 November where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on Wednesday 11 December 2024. The woman was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug, five counts of take part supply prohibited drug and possess prohibited drug. She appeared before Wollongong Local Court on Thursday 21 November 2024, where she was granted conditional bail to reappear at the same court on Thursday 12 December 2024.
About 10.15 am on Thursday 21 November 2024, officers executed a search warrant at a tobacconist in Warrawong. Police seized illegal tobacco products, including cigarettes, vapes, nicotine pouches and loose tobacco – with an estimated street value of more than $180,000. A 34-year-old-man was arrested and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station. He was charged with knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, two counts of possess tobacco 5 kilograms or above and convey etc tobacco products know of intent defraud revenue. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday 18 December 2024. A 19-year-old male employee was issued with an infringement.
Anyone with information about this incident 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.
