UPDATE
FOUR men will front court on Tuesday charged in connection to an operation which police claim has smashed a drug ring operating in the North West.
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The Leader revealed on Monday the secret operation, code-named Strike Force Boikonumba, as dozens of officers raided five properties in Tamworth, Quipolly and Caroona.
Four men have been charged and remain in custody as they prepare to front court on Tuesday.
Police have confirmed a 33-year-old Bass Hill man was charged late on Monday night with supplying an indictable quantity of cannabis, supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group.
A 43-year-old Croydon man was also charged with supplying an indictable quantity of cannabis.
Earlier on Monday, a 49-year-old Westdale man was charged with supplying a commercial quantity of cannabis, knowingly taking part in the supply of methamphetamine, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and knowingly participating in a criminal group.
A 46-year-old Quipolly man was charged with supplying cannabis, supplying an indictable quantity of methamphetamine and knowingly participate in a criminal group.
All four men were arrested on Monday morning at Freeman’s Waterhole and have been refused bail to front Toronto Local Court.
MONDAY
TWO MEN have been charged with serious drug offences and another two are in custody after five houses were raided in a secret police sting by Tamworth officers.
Five houses were raided on Monday by Oxley police as part of a long-running drug operation, code-named Strike Force Boikonumba.
The operation unfolded in Tamworth as the Target Action Group (TAG), and Oxley detectives together with detectives from Armidale and Narrabri and the New England TAG raided five properties, while a drug detection dog scoured the homes.
Police from Walcha, Manilla and Kootingal also backed officers as the rolling search warrants were executed shortly after midday in Higgins Lane in Oxley Vale, Nowland Crescent in Westdale, Green Street in Coledale as well as two properties in Caroona and Quipolly, near Quirindi.
Earlier that morning, in a coordinated operation, police swooped in Freeman’s Waterhole near the Central Coast, arresting four men from the Westdale, Quipolly and Tamworth areas.
Oxley detectives and TAG were assisted by detectives from Lake Macquarie, Traffic and Highway Patrol and the dog unit and a large quantity of what we allege is cannabis and cash was seized as well as two motor vehicles.
- Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O’Reilly
“Oxley detectives and TAG were assisted by detectives from Lake Macquarie, Traffic and Highway Patrol and the dog unit and a large quantity of what we allege is cannabis and cash was seized as well as two motor vehicles,” Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O’Reilly told The Leader.
“Police also seized a quantity of prohibited drugs and cash from the properties search on Monday.”
A 46-year-old Quipolly man and a 49-year-old Westdale man were charged with a string of offences while two other men were still in custody on Monday night.
“Two men are still being questioned by detectives at Toronto Police Station and are expected to be charged with serious drug offences relating to the extensive drug investigation,” Chief Inspector O’Reilly said.
“Further investigations will continue by strike force detectives and further arrests are anticipated.”
The operation on Monday saw resources from Sydney, Barwon and New England commands deployed to back Oxley police.
“Strike Force Boikonumba was established in September, 2017, by staff in the Oxley Target Action Group (TAG),” Chief Inspector O’Reilly said.
”Following investigations, the strike force was expanded to include Oxley detectives investigating the supply of prohibited drugs in the Tamworth, Quirindi, Willow Tree and Caroona areas.”
Investigations continue.