Three charged as police target alleged Sydney-Illawarra drug ring

Two men and a woman are the latest of 16 people arrested by a strike force targeting a drug ring operating between Sydney and the Illawarra.

Two men and a woman have been charged by a police strike force working to dismantle an alleged large-scale drug ring operating between Sydney and the Illawarra.

Detectives with the help of the riot squad and PolAir executed three simultaneous raids on Thursday night, arriving at homes across Campsie and Croydon Park about 7.30pm.

Police allege a safe containing 1.5L of gamma butyrolactone (GBL) was seized, as well as methylamphetamine or ice, mobile phones, cash, electronic equipment and two vehicles.

Two men were arrested during the raids.

A 42-year-old was charged with 21 offences, including knowingly direct activities of criminal group, supply large commercial quantity prohibited drug, and 18 counts of supply indictable quantity of prohibited drug.

A 32-year-old was charged with participate in criminal group, four counts of supply indictable quantity of prohibited drug, and supply commercial quantity prohibited drug.

Two men and a woman have been charged as part of ongoing investigations into large-scale drug supply in the Illawarra region. Picture: NSW Police

Both men were refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court on Friday.

A woman was also arrested after her vehicle was stopped by Highway Patrol on Waples Rd, Unanderra about 11.30pm on Tuesday.

The men were charged with a combined 27 offences. Picture: NSW Police

Police allege the 33-year-old was carrying almost 110g of ice and more than $3000 in cash.

In subsequent searches of homes at Barrack Heights and Maianbar, police allege small quantities of methamphetamine and items consistent with the supply of prohibited drugs were seized.

The woman was charged with six offences including two counts each of supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, supply prohibited drug and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime – serious indictable offence.

The Brownsville woman was refused bail in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday to reappear on June 22.

Strike Force Mote was launched in May 2020 in investigate the alleged drug operation.

It has so far arrested 16 people and laid more than 140 charges relating to fraud, commercial drug supply and firearm offences.

included methamphetamine and GBL. Picture: NSW Police

Drugs seized by police during the raids.

More than 5kg of methylamphetamine, 1.6kg of cocaine and 1kg of heroin have been seized, with an estimated street value in excess of $5 million dollars.

Lake Illawarra Police District Crime Manager, Detective Chief Inspector Glen Broadhead, said it was a wide-spanning operation.

Police made three simultaneous raids across Sydney on Thursday night. Picture: NSW Police

“The message we are sending is clear; our policing efforts do not stop at the district border,” Det. Ch. Insp. Broadhead said.

“We will continue to work with our colleagues from neighbouring police districts and police area commands, and we will do everything in our power to keep drugs off our streets.

“This strike force has been investigating organised crime links between Sydney and the Illawarra for the last two years.

“In that time, we have seized more than five million dollars’ worth of prohibited drugs, which is a substantial amount taken off our streets.”

Investigations are continuing and further arrests are expected.