Cessnock: Three face court after drugs, firearms and cash allegedly found in morning raids

Autumn Swann, Eddie Henderson and Tyrone Anderson were charged following early morning Strike Force raids in the Hunter Valley.

An alleged drug dealer had the key to a safe – which contained about 10 grams of methylamphetamine – on her keyring as police raided her Cessnock home early Thursday morning, a court has heard.

Autumn Swann, 27, was charged after police allegedly found the drug – also known as ice – plus three grams of cannabis, cash and capsicum spray at her home.

The mother-of-three was denied bail in Cessnock Local Court on Friday, after temporarily being released from custody for family reasons.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

Autumn Swann was charged with alleged drug offences after Strike Force Drail raided her home at Cessnock. Picture: Facebook.

A Legal Aid solicitor argued Swann should be bailed to stay at her home so she could care for her family.

“The difficulty is, that’s where she was found with the drugs,” Magistrate Andrew Miller said.

“The key to the safe was found on her keyring.”

Magistrate Miller said Swann was on bail for an alleged aggravated break and enter at the time of the alleged drug offences, and denied her bail on the basis she might offend again.

Swann did not enter a plea to two charges of possessing a prohibited drug and one of supplying a prohibited drug.

She’ll return to court on May 5.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

Eddie Henderson was charged with alleged drug offences after Strike Force Drail raided his home at Cessnock. Picture: Facebook.

Swann was one of three people charged by Strike Force Drail after coordinated raids across the Cessnock area on Thursday.

Eddie Henderson, 26, was charged after searches of his car and home.

Detectives allegedly found over 150 grams of ice, five grams of MDMA, 13 grams of cannabis, a cannabis plant, a shortened rifle, a knife and $6450 in cash between the two locations.

Henderson did not apply for bail in the same court on Friday, as his family watched on.

He has yet to enter pleas to three counts of supplying a prohibited drug, and one each of dealing with the property proceeds of crime, possessing a shortened firearm (not pistol) without authority, custody of a knife in a public place, possessing ammunition without holding a permit, possessing a prohibited plant, and possessing a prohibited drug.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

Tyrone Anderson was charged with alleged drug offences after Strike Force Drail raided his home at Cessnock. Picture: Facebook.

Tyrone Anderson, 34, was allegedly caught with 183 grams of ice hidden in DVD cases stored in the garage of a home he shares with his mother.

Detectives made the alleged find after walking sniffer dogs through the property.

Magistrate Miller said Anderson had been convicted of drug supply twice in the past, and faced significant jail time if found guilty again.

Anderson’s mother watched on as he was denied bail on Friday, on the basis he may offend again.

He did not enter a plea to a single charge of supplying a prohibited drug.

Henderson and Anderson will face court again on June 16.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

EARLIER

April 22, 2021

Two men and a woman have been arrested after police allegedly seized a shortened rifle, drugs and $8000 cash during a string of early morning raids cross Cessnock.

The searches were carried out by detectives from Strike Force Drail, set up to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs and firearms across the state.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

A 34-year-old man was arrested after drugs, cash and phones were allegedly found at one home, about 6.20am.

A simultaneous search of another home allegedly turned up drugs, a firearm, ammunition and an electronic control device.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

About 15 minutes later a 26-year-old man was arrested after drugs, a knife and cash were allegedly found in his car on Alexander St.

A phone, cash and cannabis were allegedly found at a third home a short time later.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

A 27-year-old woman was arrested after a search of a fourth home allegedly recovered cash, drugs and capsicum spray.

The items are undergoing forensic investigation and the trio is expected to be charged later today.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

The 34-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drug.

The 26-year-old man was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug; deal with property proceeds of crime; possess shortened firearm (not pistol) without authority; custody of knife in public place; possess ammunition without holding permit, possess prohibited plant, and possess prohibited drug.

The 27-year-old woman was charged with two counts of possess prohibited drug and supply prohibited drug.

The trio were refused bail to appear in Cessnock Local Court on Friday.