Police charge man and woman with commercial drug supply in South East Region Enforcement Squad

A man and woman have been charged as part of an investigation into the alleged ongoing supply of prohibited drugs in the Illawarra.

In January 2020, Strike Force Ables was established by the South East Region Enforcement Squad to investigate the supply of ‘ice’ and GBL in the region.

Acting on information, a vehicle was stopped on the Princes Highway at (SUBURB) about 4.45pm on Thursday 16 July 2020.

Officers allegedly located and seized two litres of a substance contained within a soft drink bottle, later confirmed to be gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL).

A 39-year-old woman was arrested and later released pending further inquiries.

Following extensive inquiries, a search warrant was executed at a home on Darley Street, Shellharbour, about 4pm on Wednesday 22 July 2020.

A 39-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station, where she was charged with supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity) and two counts of possess prohibited drug.

She was refused bail and appeared briefly in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday 23 July 2020, where she was formally refused bail to reappear on Wednesday 16 September 2020.

About 8am today (Thursday 6 August 2020), investigators executed search warrants at two homes in Wollongong and a hotel room in North Wollongong.

Officers allegedly located and seized prohibited drugs, electronic devices, property believed to be stolen and drug paraphernalia.

A 35-year-old man was arrested at the hotel on Cliff Road and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station, where he was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, take part supply prohibited drug – commercial quantity and organises/conducts/assists drug premises.

He was refused bail and is due to face Wollongong Local Court today (Thursday 6 August 2020).

A second man – aged 50 – was arrested at a home on Flinders Street and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station, where he was charged with aggravated break and enter in company. An outstanding warrant was also executed relating to an alleged break and enter in Unanderra on Tuesday 7 July 2020.

He was refused bail to appear in Wollongong Local Court today (Thursday 6 August 2020).

Investigations are continuing.

Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Ables investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.

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