Seven people will face court today charged following an investigation into large-scale drug supply in the Orana and Hunter regions, which also saw a V8 Supercar seized as proceeds of crime.
Strike Force Bato was formed in July 2018 by officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District targeting the commercial supply of cannabis from the Newcastle, Hunter Valley and Dubbo areas.
Following an eight-month investigation, strike force investigators executed five search warrants at properties at Dubbo and two search warrants at properties at Cessnock yesterday (Monday 18 March 2019).
The operation consisted of more than 80 officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District, Hunter Valley Police District, Western Region Enforcement Squad, and the Dog Unit, as well as Australian Border Force and the NSW Crime Commission.
During the searches, officers seized more than $140,000 cash, a Falcon V8 Supercar, a GTS HT Monaro, a further three cars, seven motorbikes, a tractor, and a quad bike, which are alleged to be the proceeds of crime.
They have also seized cannabis with an estimated potential street value of almost $900,000.
Eight people were arrested during the operation and taken to local police stations. Officers have now charged;
A 43-year-old Dubbo man with 43 counts of supply prohibited drug including supply commercial quantity, deal with proceeds of crime, and knowingly direct activities of criminal group.
A 29-year-old Dubbo man with 43 counts of supply prohibited drug including supply commercial quantity, deal with property proceeds of crime, and knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime.
A 38-year-old Dubbo woman with 10 counts of deal with proceeds of crime, and four counts of supply prohibited drug.
They were refused bail to appear in Dubbo Local Court today (Tuesday 19 March 2019).
A 56-year-old Cessnock man with three counts of supply prohibited drug including supply commercial quantity, and knowingly participate in criminal group assist crime.
A 51-year-old Cessnock man with three counts of supply prohibited drug, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
They were refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Tuesday 19 March 2019).
A 47-year-old Cassilis man with 16 counts of supply prohibited drug including supply commercial quantity, deal with property proceeds of crime, and knowingly direct activities of criminal group.
He was refused bail to appear at Mudgee Local Court today (Tuesday 19 March 2019).
A 54-year-old Cessnock man with two counts of supply prohibited drug, and two counts of possess prohibited drug.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 10 April 2019.
An eighth person – a 45-year-old Cessnock man – has been released pending further inquiries.
Police will allege in court that this operation has resulted in the dismantling of an organised criminal enterprise involved in the commercial supply of drugs.
Inquiries under Strike Force Bato continue.
