Stefen Stefas: Berkeley man faces court on drug charges after Raptor Squad arrest

The 10th person arrested by Strike Force Gindurra – launched by the NSW Police Raptor Squad to investigate cocaine supply in the Illawarra – has appeared in court.

Stefen Stefas, the 10th person charged Strike Force Gindurra, has appeared in Port Kembla Local Court.

A 20-year-old man charged as part of an Illawarra region-wide drug sting – dubbed Strike Force Gindurra – has fronted court in person for the first time.

Stefen Stefas was arrested at his home on Shearwater Dr, Berkeley, earlier this month and charged with eight offences including participating in a criminal group and supplying an indictable quantity of drugs.

The man appeared in Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday where no pleas were entered with the matter adjourned to Wollongong Local Court in August.

Stefas’ bail was continued.

Strike Force Gindurra was established by the State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad in February, this year, to investigate the large-scale supply of cocaine by alleged associates of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCG) and Organised Crime Networks (OCN) in the Illawarra region.

One of the men arrested by Strike Force Gindurra. Picture: NSW Police

Police allegedly found gold jewellery, a watch, designer shoes, designer man bags and a further 200g of white powder at Mustajab Turi’s Wollongong address. Picture: NSW Police

Stefas is the 10th person to be charged by Strike Force Gindurra investigators since May,

Andrea Rubbo, 42, Tory Vartiainen, 22, Stevce Blazevski, 42, Jake Lloyd Agius, 24, and Daniel Treneski, 38, Dimitri Cantarakis, 21, and Mustajab Turi, 21, were also charged with various offences including drug supply and participating in a criminal group.

Rubbo and Treneski have both pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them with the remaining eight year to enter a plea.

The dectet have all secured bail and will appear in Wollongong Local Court and Port Kembla Local at a later date.

Rubbo and Treneski have both pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them with the remaining eight year to enter a plea.

Turi was the first man charged by the strike force when he was arrested late last month and charged with 25 offences including drug supply, knowingly direct of criminal group, and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.

The 21-year-old was stopped by police on Sheffield St, Cringila, where they alleged found a knife and 56g of white powder, believed to be cocaine.

Officers executed a search warrant of a Corrimal St, Wollongong home where police say they found gold jewellery, a watch, designer shoes, designer man bags and a further 200g of white powder believed to be cocaine.