Strike Force Culti raids: Police charge five people, allegedly seize millions of dollars of drugs in Illawarra and Tweed
Those allegedly behind a multi-state drug ring where in a raid cops found 9kg of ecstasy, a pill press, coke, guns, ammo, cash, a Ford Raptor and a Porsche have been named.
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Police have arrested five people - whose names can now be revealed - and allegedly seized almost 9kg of ecstasy, 140g of cocaine, two guns, ammo, $64,000 in cash, a Ford Raptor, Porsche Carrera and a pill press in NSW and Queensland raids.
It’s also alleged Strike Force Culti uncovered a clandestine lab in the far north of NSW during a multi-agency probe into the manufacturing and mass supply of drugs across the Australian east coast.
The investigation began in March after Queensland Australian Border Force (ABF) officers examined packages allegedly found to contain about 50 kilograms of an MDMA (ecstasy) precursor.
NSW Police states ABF investigators identified the syndicate had been importing since August 2023 and about 150kg of the precursor had been seized since that time.
Strike force officers and officers from Lake Illawarra and Tweed/Byron Police districts carried out 10 raids on properties at Tullimbar, Yallah, Calderwood, Albion Park and Kingscliff on Wednesday.
The same day ABF investigators and Queensland Police raided a property at Flagstone, Queensland.
Police allege officers seized the large stash of MDMA and cocaine, the firearms, ammunition, the wad of cash, cars and the drug press during the search of the Illawarra properties.
It’s also alleged officers uncovered the lab at a home during the Kingscliff, Tweed Shire raid.
“Specialist police from the State Crime Command Chemical Operations Team were deployed and dismantled the lab, locating and seizing over one thousand litres of precursor for MDMA and methamphetamine,” police allege.
Officers also allegedly found several relevant electronic devices during the search of the Flagstone property.
“The total street value of all drugs seized during the investigation was $3.1m,” police state.
Police arrested two men during raids – Matthew Joel Purches, 35, at an Albion Park property and Jay Davies, 34, at a Tullimbar property.
They were both taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station. Purches was charged with 10 offences relating to large-scale drug manufacture and supply, as well as two counts of dealing with property proceeds of crime (less than $100,000), knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, possessing ammunition without licence/permit/authority and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.
Davies was charged with supplying a prohibited drug (large commercial quantity), supplying a prohibited drug (indictable and commercial quantity), dealing with property proceeds of crime (less than $100,000), participate criminal group contributing to a criminal activity and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.
They were refused bail to face Wollongong Local Court on June 6. They were again refused bail to face the same court on July 31.
ABF officers and Queensland Police arrested Tyler John Cookson-Davis, 25, and Stephen Davis, 44, at Southport. They were both charged with importation offences and remain before the courts.
Police state that following further investigations, officers arrested Rhett Lee Doherty, 33, at White Bay Cruise Terminal about 6.30am on June 7.
Doherty was taken to Newtown Police Station and charged with six offences related to large-scale drug manufacture and supply, as well as participating in a criminal group contributing to a criminal activity and possessing an unauthorised firearm.
Doherty was refused bail to face Downing Centre Local Court the same day. He was again refused bail to face the same court on August 6.
Investigations under Strike Force Culti continue.
The operation also involved officers attached to the NSW Police State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad as well as the NSW Crime Commission.
Know more? Phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Callers can remain anonymous.
Got a news tip? Email luke.mortimer1@news.com.au
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