Information from the public has led to the arrest of 19 people, the seizure of five firearms and a large amount of drugs (ICE), during large-scale drug operation over the past two days in Shoalhaven, Braidwood, Nerriga and Sydney.
In October 2014, a community meeting was held in Sanctuary Point, as an opportunity for the local community to raise concerns to police.
As a result of concerns raised during the meeting about increased drug activity in the area, police from Shoalhaven Local Area Command established Strike Force Croci.
Seven months of protracted investigations led police to discover a wide-reaching drug syndicate supplying drugs to the Shoalhaven area, south west, and western Sydney.
Strike Force Croci, comprising officers from Shoalhaven Local Area Command with the assistance of officers from State Crime Commands Drug Squad, Special Services Group, The Hume, Monaro, Far South Coast, Wollongong, and Lake Illawarra Local Area Commands conducted a two day operation starting yesterday Tuesday, June 2.
During the operation, police have raided 16 homes, 19 people have been arrested, five firearms seized, and large quantity of drugs (ICE) has been taken off the streets.
On Tuesday, officers from Strike Force Croci with the assistance of officers from State Crime Commands Drug Squad arrested nine people in three locations:
- About 8am, police arrested two men, aged 43 and 33, at Berry Railway Station. Following their arrest a search warrant was executed at a home on Platypus Way, Blackbutt, where a quantity of drugs (ICE), cash and a firearm were allegedly seized.
- About 3.15pm, police arrested two men, both aged 45, on Wallace Street, Braidwood and allegedly seized a large amount of drugs believed to be methylamphetamine (ICE).
- About 4.20pm, police arrested one woman, 29, and three men, aged 26, 29, and 33, in Green Valley and allegedly seized a large amount of drugs believed to be methylamphetamine (ICE). Following their arrest a search warrant was executed at a home on Currawong Street, Green Valley, where an amount of cash and drug paraphernalia were allegedly seized.
Early on the morning of Wednesday June 3, officers from Strike Force Croci executed 14 simultaneous search warrants on homes in the Shoalhaven area resulting in the alleged seizure of drugs (ICE), firearms, and cash, and the arrest of ten people.
- A 32-year-old man was arrested at a home on Hillcrest Avenue, Nowra
- A 43-year-old man was arrested at a home on Leumeah Street, Sanctuary Point.
- A 42-year-old man was arrested at a home on Torridon Street, Nowra.
- A 40-year-old man and a 39-year-old man were arrested at a home on Pleasant Way, Nowra.
- A 39-year-old woman was arrested at a home on McKay Street, Nowra.
- A 40-year-old man was arrested at a home on Sanctuary Point Road, Sanctuary Point.
- A 49-year-old man was arrested at a home on Wallace Street, Nowra
- A 42-year-old man was arrested at a home on Moss Street, Nowra; and
- A 49-year-old man was arrested at a home on Pitt Street, Nowra.
Investigations are continuing and more arrests are expected.