Silus Boyes in court for allegedly dealing drugs on Coffs Coast

Marijuana crops, illicit drugs and stolen cars were seized in a major drug case before Coffs Harbour District Court which may soon be settled.

The case against a Nambucca Valley man accused of being involved in a multimillion dollar drug operation in the Northern NSW region may no longer go to trial.

Silus Boyes, who pleaded not guilty to a string of drug-related charges last month, was due to be arraigned and have a trial date set in Coffs Harbour District Court on Wednesday morning.

However a request was made for the matter to be adjourned for a week to allow for potential negotiations.

“There’s some prospect of it settling and it’s worth investigating,” the prosecution told Judge Jonathan Priestley.

Boyes was charged as part of a strike force investigation into drug cultivation and distribution. Picture: NSW Police Force

Police established Strike Force Anketell in April last year to investigate an alleged ring behind the supply of drugs in the Northern NSW region, as well as a shooting which took place in Kalang that same month.

Investigations culminated in two raids at rural properties in the Bellingen and Nambucca areas in September, which police alleged uncovered marijuana plants worth millions of dollars, illicit drugs and a number of vehicles suspected to have been stolen.

Boyes was arrested two days later at a Bowraville home.

Boyes has since pleaded not guilty to all charges including discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, having goods suspected to be stolen on his premises, drug supply offences, cultivating a large commercial quantity of marijuana, attempted manufacture of a drug, and dealing with suspected proceeds of crime.

NSW Police published these images following the September 2020 raids at rural properties in Thora and Missabotti.

A number of co-accused remain before the courts.

Craig Anthony Welsh, who was also charged after the raids and was labelled as a “potential co-accused” of Boyes, also appeared in the District Court on Wednesday where he was arraigned.

Welsh pleaded guilty to a charge of knowingly taking part in the attempted manufacture of methamphetamine in Thora between February and September last year, and Judge Priestley set a sentencing date for December 13.

He previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of cultivating a large commercial quantity of marijuana, and was due to have a trial date set on Wednesday morning however that was also adjourned for a week to coincide with Boyes’ matter.

They will appear before the District Court again on October 13.