Drug & Firearms Squad detectives charge four men over alleged regional drug ring

Drug & Firearms Squad detectives have charged four men for their alleged role in drug supply in the state’s central west.

Strike Force Ashgill was established by State Crime Command’s Drug & Firearms Squad – with assistance from Chifley Police District Region Enforcement Squad – in September 2024 to investigate an alleged criminal group operating in Cowra and surrounding areas.

Following extensive inquiries, from 7am yesterday (Wednesday 13 November 2024), strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad and the Public Order and Riot Squad – executed five search warrants in Lalor Park, Seven Hills, Cowra, Macquarie Fields and St Marys.

At the Macquarie Fields address, police arrested a 44-year-old man. He was taken to Campbelltown Police Station where he was charged with three drug supply related charges, deal with property proceeds of crime < $100000 & < $5000 and participate in a criminal group.

He was refused bail and appeared in Campbelltown Local Court yesterday.

In Kiama, police arrested a 30-year-old man. He was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station, where he was charged with 14 counts of drug related supply, possess unauthorised firearm, deal with property proceeds of crime < $100000 & < $5000, and knowingly/recklessly direct criminal group assist crime.

He was refused bail to appear in Wollongong Local Court today (Thursday 14 November 2024).

At the Cowra address, police arrested a 35-year-old man. He was taken to Cowra Police Station, where he was charged with seventeen drug supply related offences.

He was refused bail and appeared in Orange Local Court yesterday.

During a vehicle stop in St Marys, police arrested a 54-year-old man. He was taken to Penrith Police Station, where he was charged with seven drug supply related offences, recklessly deal with proceeds of crime <=$5000 and participate in a criminal group.

He was refused bail and appeared in Penrith Local Court yesterday.

During the searches, police located and seized over half a kilogram of methylamphetmine, 750g of cannabis, two ounces of cocaine, 300 caps of heroin, gel blasters, ammunition, $20,000 in cash and a snake.

/Public Release. View in full here.