Steven Anthony Masters-Whitehouse in court for drugs, semiautomatic assault rifle charges
A Wadalba man allegedly supplied a semiautomatic assault rifle for $50,000 along with other guns, cocaine, MDMA and kilograms of cannabis, a court has heard.
Central Coast
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A Central Coast man arrested during a massive bust in which police allegedly seized 12kg of MDMA, 2kg of cocaine, 2kg of cannabis and $250,000 in cash hidden in a dishwasher, has been charged with a further seven offences.
Steven Anthony Masters-Whitehouse was not required to appear via video link at Wyong Local Court on Tuesday after his arrest on June 25.
In January this year, Tuggerah Lakes police established Strike Force Shipley to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs and firearms across the Central Coast.
Inquiries revealed criminal activity relating to the supply of MDMA and cocaine, as well as the supply of illegal guns across Sydney and the state’s north.
Subsequently, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Meegan to investigate similar criminal activities being conducted out of Western Sydney.
Following extensive inquiries, Tuggerah Lakes Police arrested Mr Masters-Whitehouse, 34, of Wadalba, at a carpark on St Johns Road, Jilliby, about 10am on June 25.
He was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with 28 offences including unlawfully selling five firearms and supplying large commercial quantities of drugs.
Charge sheets tendered in court show Mr Masters-Whitehouse has since been served with a further seven offences.
In the charge sheets police allege Mr Masters-Whitehouse sold 9kg and 8.97kg of cannabis at Wyong Creek and Warnervale, 278.6g of cocaine at Warnervale and 1kg of MDMA at Jilliby in May.
Police further allege in the charge sheets he sold a Smith & Wesson five shot .38 calibre revolver for $30,000 at Jilliby, an Astra Falcon 4000 .38 calibre pistol for $28,000 at Guilford and a KS30 calibre 7.62x39mm semi automatic assault rifle — similar to an AK-47 — with four magazines for $50,000 also at Guilford.
He has not yet entered any pleas and his matter was adjourned to October 20.
One of his two co-accuseds also appeared at Wyong Local Court on Tuesday.
Zachariah O’Beid, 23, of Yagoona, was arrested and charged with supplying an amount of cannabis and 500g of cocaine on June 25 at Warnervale.
He too has not entered any pleas and has been adjourned on bail to the same date.
Meanwhile a third man remains before Blacktown Local Court after he was also arrested on June 25 after Drug and Firearms Squad detectives attended a hotel at Reservoir Road, Arndell Park.
During a subsequent search of the 33-year-old’s vehicle, officers allegedly located and seized an amount of MDMA and cocaine, as well as $10,000 cash.
The man allegedly attempted to resist police before he was arrested and taken to Blacktown Police Station.
Shortly after the arrest, strike force investigators conducted two search warrants at units at Blacktown and Toongabbie.
During the searches, officers allegedly seized more than 2kg of cocaine, 12kg of MDMA, about 2kg of cannabis, an amount of methylamphetamine (ice) and equipment consistent with the supply of prohibited drugs.
Detectives also allegedly seized a loaded pistol, ammunition, a flick knife, a money counting machine, mobile phones and documentation.
A further $250,000 cash was allegedly located in a dishwasher at the Blacktown property and seized.
The Toongabbie man was charged with three counts of supplying a large commercial quantity of drugs, supplying an unregistered firearm, resisting arrest and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.
Police will allege in court that the man was involved in the supply of prohibited firearms and large-scale supply of prohibited drugs across NSW.