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Five people arrested during drug raids on the South Coast in the early hours of Friday (October 23) have been charged.
Police from Strike Force Splinter with the assistance of the South East Region Enforcement Squad and Dog Unit executed search warrants at three homes in Nowra, Culburra Beach and Bomaderry at 6am on Friday, arresting three men and two women, as well as allegedly recovering a quantity of drugs and cash.
During the searches officers seized cash, drugs, a BMW sedan, property believed to be stolen, jewellery and prohibited weapon.
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Police will allege all five were working as a group supplying drugs, particularly MDMA and ice (methylamphetamine).
An 18-year-old Bomaderry man was charged with an outstanding arrest warrant.
A 30-year-old Culburra Beach woman was charged with participating in criminal group, three counts of supplying a prohibited drug, owner/occupier knowingly allow use as drug premises, two counts of dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime, two counts of possessing a prohibited restricted substance, possessing an unregistered firearm and possessing a prohibited weapon.
A 31-year-old Culburra Beach man was charged with participating in a criminal group, six counts of supplying a prohibited drug and supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis.
A 34-year-old Nowra woman was charged with two counts of participating in a criminal group, two counts of supplying a prohibited drug, possessing a prohibited weapon and two counts of dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
A 39-year-old Greenwell Point man was charged with contravening an apprehended violence order.
They have all been refused bail and are due to face Nowra Local Court this afternoon.
Police say investigations are continuing.
Earlier - 12.40pm:
Five arrested in South Coast drug bust
Five people have been arrested following three simultaneous drug raids on the South Coast.
Police investigating the supply of illicit drugs in the Shoalhaven have raided homes at Nowra, Culburra Beach and Bomaderry in the early hours of Friday, October 23, arresting three men and two women over the alleged supply of MDMA and ice.
In June 2020, Strike Force Splinter was established by South Coast Police District to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs in the Nowra area.
Following an extensive investigation, strike force investigators, with the assistance of South Coast detectives, the South East Region Enforcement Squad and Dog Unit, executed search warrants at the three homes at 6am.
Police allegedly recovered a quantity of drugs and cash.
Three men, aged 18, 31 and 39 were arrested, along with two women aged 30 and 34.
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The group were taken to Nowra Police Station, with investigations continuing and various charges for drug supply and contributing to a criminal group expected to be laid.
South Coast Police Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Scott Nelson said all five people arrested were allegedly working together as part of a drug supply operation in the area.
"This is a clear message we will continue the suppression and disruption of activities in the district," he said
"You've all seen the activities out in the Huskisson area and we will continue to undertake these operations until these people realise we mean business.
"People selling drugs are scavengers of human misery - we will not apologise for targeting these people."
He said a lot of the investigation resulted from information provided by the public.
"I encourage the public to continue to provide us with information," he said.
"We act on it and any information is treated in the strictest confidence.
"We know who you are out there and will continue to act on that."
Insp Nelson said it is alleged the five people were working in concert with each other to provide drugs in the area.
"These drugs are not manufactured in laboratories - it's Russian roulette for people who use these drugs," he said.
"We don't know what's involved in them.
"Some of these locations, you wouldn't let your dog there."
He said these latest arrests have "loose links" back to recent crackdown on Outlaw Motorcycle Groups (OMG) in the area.
"Everything links back to the bikies," he said.
"They are the enemy of the community.
"The South Coast is a small community despite being a big area geographically. We believe there are links all the way through to previous arrests.
"We know about all these links and we are working on it.
"I want to assure the good people of the community, we know who they are and we are acting on it and we really appreciate the information the community gives us."
Read more: Crime/Court