Gavin Slattery, Janelle Sharpe: four charged as police swoop on alleged drug network

Four people have been arrested in Goulburn following police efforts to dismantle a drug network in the region.

Police have charged four people who they allege are part of a drug network supplying ice throughout the region.

Gavin Slattery, 32, Janelle Sharpe, 52, and Bonny Lee Osborne, 22, faced Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday afternoon, facing charges of supplying drugs after a police raid earlier today.

Mr Slattery was charged with 59 counts of supplying prohibited drugs, two counts of supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, and two counts of possessing prohibited drug. He was refused bail.

Police arrested four Goulburn residents on charges of drug supply in a co-ordinated strike on a drug network.

Ms Osborne’s lawyer blamed her client’s troublesome relationship with Mr Slattery for her alleged role in the drug network.

“It appears that Ms Osborne has been more of an assistant to Mr Slattery rather than a mastermind of supply,” she said.

The 22-year-old was charged with six counts of supplying prohibited drugs, possessing prohibited drugs, and contravening an apprehended violence order restriction.

Despite her lawyer’s argument that Ms Osborne’s mental illnesses would not be helped by time in custody, Magistrate Geraldine Beattie determined that Ms Osborne’s three breaches of the apprehended violence order against her meant that she had “no thought for the court’s orders”.

Police located large amounts of cannabis during their searches.

“I refuse bail because I have no confidence that she will comply with bail conditions,” she said.

Ms Sharpe was charged with supplying drugs on an ongoing basis, ten counts of supplying prohibited drugs, two counts of possessing prohibited drugs, and dealing with property proceeds of crime.

The court heard small amounts of ice and cannabis were allegedly found at the house of the 52-year-old, along with syringes. Ms Sharpe’s lawyer argued she should be granted bail because of her age and comparatively clean record.

However, Magistrate Beattie disagreed.

“These offences have a big impact on the community,” she said.

Ms Sharpe and Ms Osborne both broke into tears when told they would remain in custody.

A mechanical bow was one of the weapons uncovered by police in the raid.

Officers discovered cash in their raids on the Goulburn homes.

Gary Rayner, 54, faced Goulburn Local Court on Thursday on three charges of supplying methylamphetamine and one charge of selling an ice pipe. Mr Rayner pleaded guilty to selling the ice pipe but denied supplying ice.

The court heard Mr Rayner has previously spent two years and six months in jail for previous charges related to drug supply. Magistrate David Walliams said arguments for bail because of Mr Rayner’s severe arthritis did not outweigh the risk of reoffending, given his history of criminality.

“He has served a long jail sentence for the same offences in the past,” he said.

The Southern Region Enforcement Squad arrested the four accused on Wednesday 14 April after a police raid on several Goulburn homes.

Strike Force Koombahla was established last year to tackle drug supply in the Goulburn area.

At 6am police officers conducted searches of homes at Churchill Street, Goldsmith Street, and Taralga Road. Officers allegedly found large amounts of cannabis, methylamphetamine, prescription medication, weapons, cash, and electronic devices. Among the weapons found were knuckledusters and a bow and arrows.

The court heard the raid was conducted after police tapped the phones of the accused and intercepted incriminating information.

Strike Force Koombahla had been established in September 2020 to investigate the supply of ice and other drugs in the Goulburn region. The four arrests were conducted by strike force officers, along with the Hume Police Force and Dog Unit.

More to come.