Please Note: The Strike Force is pronounced Cecum (See-KUHM)
Police have charged an additional 7 people, as part of an operation targeting illicit drug and tobacco supply in the state's south.
In March 2024 Strike Force Cecum was established to investigate the alleged ongoing supply of prohibited drugs and illicit tobacco within the Murray River Police District.
The operation ran between Wednesday 3 July 2024 and Thursday 4 July 2024, and involved officers from the Southern Region Enforcement Squad, with assistance provided from POLAir, the Dog Unit, officers attached to the Murray River Police District and NSW Health.
During the two-day operation, police charged 16 people with 35 offences and executed 12 search warrants in Albury, Lavington and Howlong.
Further investigations led to an additional 7 people being arrested for 13 offences on Friday (5 July 2024).
Incidents of note;
- About 8.30am on Wednesday (3 July 2024), officers executed five search warrants at businesses on Dean Street, Albury; AMP Lane, Albury; Mate Street, North Albury; Griffith Road, Lavington and Hawkins Street, Howlong, and a residential address in at Balu Street, West Albury. Police located and seized in excess of $26,000 in cash, alleged to be the proceeds of crime, illicit cigarettes, illicit loose leaf tobacco, vapes and electronic devices seized for forensic examination. Following investigations, about 10.50am on Friday (5 July 2024), a 32-year-old man attended Albury Police Station, where he was arrested. He was charged with knowingly direct activities of criminal group and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime. He was granted conditional bail to appear before Albury Local Court on Tuesday 13 July 2024.
- About 8am on Friday 5 July 2024 police attended a hotel on Young Street Albury. A 33-year-old-man was arrested and taken to Albury Police Station. He was charged with custody of knife in public place, recklessly deal with proceeds of crime small &
- About 9am on Friday (5 July 2024), police attended a home in Cardio Drive, Springdale Heights. A 34-year-old man was arrested and taken to Albury Police Station. He was charged with supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, three counts of supply prohibited drug
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.
