PLEASE NOTE: Strikeforce Mokine is pronounced moh-keen
Law enforcement agencies, led by New South Wales Police have dismantled a large-scale drug syndicate operating across the state’s Illawarra region after charging nine people and seizing firearms, drugs and cash under Strike Force Mokine.
In July 2025, officers attached to Southern Region Enforcement Squad and State Crime Command – with assistance from the NSW Crime Commission, Australia Federal Police, Australian Border Force – commenced Strike Force Strike Mokine to investigate the organised supply of prohibited drugs in the Illawarra.
Following extensive investigations, strike force members – with assistance from officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District, South Coast Police District, Wollongong Police District, The Hume Police District, Southern Region High Risk Offenders Team, Dog Unit, and State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad and Organised Crime Squad – executed 16 search warrants yesterday (Tuesday 23 June 2026) across the Lake Illawarra and South Coast regions.
During the search warrants, six firearms including two semi-automatic pistols and four rifles, two gel blasters, prohibited weapons including tasers and flick knives, approximately $150,000 cash and drugs including 300g of cocaine and 10g methamphetamine were seized and will undergo forensic testing.
Following the searches, five men – aged 25, 27, 28, 36 and 42 – and four women – two aged 21 and two aged 26 – were arrested and charged with a range of offences including commercial supply of prohibited drugs, importation and tracking and firearm related offences.
Notable incidents include:
- About 7.15am yesterday, strike force officers executed a search warrant at a home in Warilla where they located and seized 140 grams of cocaine and $127,025 cash – which police will allege was the proceeds of crime. Following the search, a 27-year-old man was arrested and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where he was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and recklessly deal with proceeds of crime greater than $5000. The 27-year-old was granted conditional bail to appear in Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday 22 July 2026.
- About 6.30am yesterday, strike force officers arrested a 21-year-old woman outside a home in Warilla. She was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station and charged with supply prohibited drug greater than or equal to large commercial quantity, participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, hinder discovery evidence re: serious indictable offence, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime and two counts of possess amount of precursor prescribed by regulations. She was refused bail to appear in Bail Division Court 3 today (Wednesday 24 June 2026).
- About 8.40am yesterday, Australian Federal Police officers executed a search warrant at a Warrawong home. A 26-year-old woman was arrested and charged with importing a marketable quantity of border controlled drug, trafficking a marketable quantity of controlled drug and drug possession. She was refused bail to appear in Bail Division Court 3 today (Wednesday 24 June 2026).
- About 7.10am yesterday, strike force officers executed a search warrant at a home on Penrose Avenue, Bomaderry. During the search, officers seized six firearms, prohibited weapons including flick knife and a trench knife and $14,250 cash. A 28-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Nowra Police Station. He was charged with 16 offences including possess unregistered firearm in public place, possess greater than 3 unregistered firearms, 1 is prohibited/pistol, deal with property proceeds of crime less than $100,000, possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit (four counts) and supply prohibited drug greater than or equal to commercial quantity. He was refused bail to appear in Bail Division Court 3 today (Wednesday 24 June 2026).
Investigations under Strike Force Mokine continues.
