Seven men have been charged and more than 1.5 kilograms of prohibited drugs seized following investigations into the supply of illicit drugs in the state’s central west.
Strike Force Pimm was established by officers attached to Central West Police District in January 2018, to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs in Orange and neighbouring towns.
Two men – aged 28 and 29 – were arrested by officers in Bathurst on Sunday 10 February 2019.
The pair were both charged with goods in custody and deal with property proceeds of crime. They were both granted conditional bail to Bathurst Local Court on Monday 11 March 2019.
Following inquiries, officers conducted search warrants at several properties in Orange on Wednesday 13 February 2019.
A 19-year-old man was arrested at a home on Blethington Street, with officers allegedly seizing ammunition and an amount of cocaine, cannabis and methamphetamine.
The man was arrested and charged with 15 offences;
- Supply prohibited drug commercial quantity
- Supply prohibited drug indictable quantity x9
- Supply prohibited drug x2
- Supply prohibited drug large commercial quantity
- Participate in criminal group
- Possess prohibited drug
In a separate arrest, a 20-year-old man was charged with 14 offences;
- Supply prohibited drug indictable quantity x9
- Supply prohibited drug
- Supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis
- Supply prohibited drug commercial quantity
- Knowingly deal with proceeds of crime
- Participate in criminal group
A 21-year-old man was also arrested and charged with 25 offences;
- Supply prohibited drug
- Supply prohibited drug indictable quantity x15
- Supply prohibited drug commercial quantity x4
- Supply prohibited drug large commercial quantity
- Supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis x2
- Deal with property proceeds of crime
- Participate in criminal group
All three men were refused bail and will appear at Orange Local Court on Monday 8 April 2019.
On Friday 15 February 2019, officers arrested a 21-year-old man in Cowra. He was charged with possess prohibited drug, knowingly take part in the supply of a prohibited drug, and participate in a criminal group.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Cowra Local Court on Friday 22 March 2019.
Earlier today (Tuesday 19 February 2019) police arrested a 32-year-old man at a home on Diamond Drive.
He was arrested and taken to Orange Police Station where he was charged with 13 offences;
- Supply prohibited drug indictable quantity x8
- Supply prohibited drug ongoing basis x2
- Supply prohibited drug commercial quantity x2
- Deal with proceeds of crime
The man was refused bail and will appear at Orange Local Court today (Tuesday 19 February 2019).
To date Strike Force Pimm officers have seized 242 grams MDMA, 292.7 grams of MDA, 700.2 grams of methylamphetamine, 313 grams of cocaine and $25,000 cash.
Central West Police District Commander, Acting Superintendent Bruce Grassick said one of the top priorities for police is removing prohibited drugs from our streets and arresting those who seek to cash in on supplying these poisons to the community.
“As part of this ongoing commitment, officers from Central West Police District will continue to target the illegal drug trade at every level of the supply chain,” A/Supt Grassick said.
“Methylamphetamine or ‘ice’, MDMA, and cocaine are concocted by criminal networks in some of the most revolting conditions with absolutely no quality control.
“They don’t care about the person buying the product; just the dollars they can reap from perpetuating this miserable cycle of demand and supply.
“Strike Force Pimm have returned excellent results over the past 12 months, and as we continue in our fight against illicit drugs we ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 immediately.
“The information you provide, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could save many lives,” A/Supt Grassick said.
Investigations under Strike Force Pimm are continuing.
