Drugs and Knife Allegedly Found During Vehicle Stop At Cameron Park

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court today for a man after police allegedly found drugs and a knife in his vehicle at Cameron Park.

Around 10.30am on Tuesday September 9, Highway Patrol officers stopped a vehicle on Cameron Park Drive.

It's alleged the 22-year-old driver returned a positive reading to methamphetamine, cannabis and cocaine.

A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered a large knife, cannabis, cocaine, MDMA and ketamine.

The man's been refused bail charged with drug supply and possession offences and having custody of a knife in a public place. 

 

Police Bust Cocaine Collection Group In The Hunter

 BY IAN CROUCH

Three men are due to face court today (Friday 27 June 2025) charged with conspiring to import 1.5 tonnes of cocaine following a major police operation in the Hunter.

Detectives from Strike Force Blaine say they identified three men acting suspiciously in the Hunter including the purchase of two marine vessels for cash.

Police will allege the actions of the men were consistent with the methods used by catching crews involved with the collection of large quantities of prohibited drugs.

Police say the trio stood to earn $3.4 million between them for their role in collecting the cocaine haul.

Yesterday (Thursday 26 June 2025), officers arrested a 34-year-old man during a vehicle stop at Eleebana, a 23-year-old man at an industrial worksite in Forster and a 24-year-old man at Salamander Bay.

They also seized a commercial fishing boat at Lemon Tree Passage for forensic examination.

All three have been charged with conspiracy to supply a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug as part of a criminal group and refused bail to face Parramatta Local Court today.

 

Police arresting a 34-year-old man at Eleebana

Woman Faces Court On Drug Supply Charges After Vehicle Stop In Mayfield West

 BY IAN CROUCH

A woman has been granted conditional bail after police allegedly found thousands of dollars is cash and drugs during a vehicle stop at Mayfield West.

Patrolling police spotted a Volkswagen Golf on Bull Street on Monday afternoon and stopped the car on Gregson Avenue.

A search of the car allegedly found almost $80,000 in cash, drugs including 29g of methamphetamine and 18 LSD tablets, scales and mobile phones.

41-year-old Sasha Lee Black faced Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday charged with four counts of possessing a prohibited drug, drug supply, dealing with the proceeds of crime and goods in custody.

She's been ordered to report daily to Toronto Police Station and not to enter Mayfield.

Her case returns to to court on February 6.

 

Two Arrested, Drugs and Firearms Seized During Property Search In Maitland

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Two men have been charged and guns and weapons have been seized, following a search warrant being carried out at a property near Maitland.

Earlier this month, police launched an investigation relating to firearms and the supply of drugs in the Maitland area.

Following inquiries, police executed a search warrant at a property on Champion Crescent at Gillieston Heights at about 8:30am yesterday (Wednesday the 6th of September). 

A search of the property allegedly revealed several items of interest including two firearms, an extendible baton, electronic devices, and various drugs, including methamphetamine. 

The two male occupants, aged 35 and 37, were arrested before being taken to Maitland Police Station.

The younger man was charged with 10 drug and firearm offences. 

The older man was charged with resisting police. 

Both were refused bail to appear before Maitland Local Court today (Thursday the 7th of September). 

Bulahdelah Bikie Charged As Part Of Operation Morpheus

BY OLIVIA DILLON

 

A man from Bulahdelah is one of 74 people arrested in NSW, as part of a five-day national crack-down on outlaw motorcycle gang activities.

Raptor Squad Detectives took part in Operation Morpheus last week, which involved officers from every state and territory in Australia.

Among those arrested was the 49-year-old from Bulahdelah, who was allegedly found in possession of three guns, two replica firearms, ammunition, a crossbow, knives and Comancheros paraphernalia.

Police also uncovered cannabis plants, 5kg of dried marijuana, and cannabis products inside two tents at the man's home.

He's been charged with 19 weapons and drug supply counts. 

 

Image: NSW Police

 

 

 

Man Charged After Vehicle Stop at Thornton

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A man will face Maitland court today, after a vehicle stop at Thornton unearthed allegedly stolen items and illegal drugs. 

Port Stephens Hunter Police were patrolling the Thornton area at about 3:00am on Wednesday, when they located a vehicle allegedly displaying altered registration plates on Thomas Coke Drive.

A search of the car revealed property suspected to have been stolen during a recent break and enter at Rutherford and a small bag containing methamphetamine.

A 30-year-old man was arrested at the scene before being taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with multiple offences.  

Man Charged With Drug And Firearm Offences After Vehicle Stop At Heddon Greta

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court in August on drugs and firearm offences after being stopped by police at Heddon Greta.

Patrolling officers stopped a car on Main Road on Tuesday afternoon, with a search of the vehicle allegedly uncovering a firearm, $18,000 in cash, 70g of crystal meth and 34 oxycodone tablets.

The 25-year-old Dungog man faced Cessnock Court on Wednesday charged with 13 offences including four counts of drug possession, knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime and firearms charges.

He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court on August 9.  

Six Charged Over Alleged Newcastle Pub Brawl

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Six people have been charged after a brawl broke-out at a pub in Newcastle last month.

It's alleged, a 36-year-old man threw glass at a wall and grabbed a female staff member after being asked to leave the premises.

A fight broke out, and shortly after, the man and three others left the venue. 

They returned two hours later and allegedly assaulted a number of patrons in the carpark of the premises, including a 33-year-old man who was knocked unconscious and taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.

Following inquiries, Raptor North Squad officers executed four search warrants at properties in Cardiff, Edgeworth, Gillieston Heights, and Newcastle West from 5:00am yesterday, where they seized five firearms, cannabis, and MDMA.

Four men and two women were arrested.

It's believed all four men are senior members or associates of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang. 

 

Drugs Seized from 22 Year-Old in Hamilton South

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Charges have been laid after a a 22 year-old man was arrested in Hamilton South over the weekend. 

Police stopped a suspicious vehicle during a patrol at about 11:35 on Saturday night, and discovered over 50 grams of methylamphetamine, cannabis and cocaine. 

The drugs were seized by police, and are estimated to be valued at more than $30,000. 

The man was also charged with having custody of a knife in a public place. 

He was refused bail and will appear in Newcastle Local Court today. 

Pistol Found During Vehicle Stop At Merewether

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man's due to front court today (Monday 12 December, 2022) on firearms and drugs charges after police stopped his car at Merewether.

Police conducting proactive patrols of the Merewether area stoped a Subaru Impreza on Wilton Street at about 4.15pm on Sunday.

 Checks  revealed the 27-year-old driver was disqualified from driving.

A search of the man's car allegedly uncovered a .9mm pistol. ammunition, a folding knife , methlamphetamine and cash.

The items were seized for forensic examination and the man was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station.

He's been charged with possess unregistered unauthorised pistol in public place, acquire pistol subject to firearms prohibition order, acquire ammunition subject to prohibition order, supply prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, carry cutting weapon upon apprehension.

He's also been charged with affray relating to an incident in May this year.

The man's been refused bail pending his appearance in Newcastle Local Court today.

 

 

Diver found dead alongside Newcastle cocaine haul identified

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The diver found dead, alongside 50 kilograms of cocaine in the Port of Newcastle, has been identified.  

Bruno Borges is a 31-year-old Brazilian national and a professional diver.  

It's believed, he traveled to Australia after being hired by drug smugglers.

His family and friends are now campaigning to get his body back home.   

The search continues for another Brazilian connected to the incident.  

Police seize huge cannabis crop at Stroud home

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A man has been charged with drug offences after police located several cannabis plants at a home in Stroud on Wednesday. 

Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended the home around 8am in relation to an unrelated traffic incident. 

Police observed a number of cannabis plants in a detached shed next to the home. 

Officers spoke with a 46-year-old man who gave police consent to conduct a search of the home.

It’s alleged police located and seized 39 cannabis plants of varying maturity and approximately 3kg of cannabis leaf. 

Following inquiries, a 26-year-old man presented himself to Raymond Terrace Police Station about 3pm the same day, where he was arrested and charged with cultivate prohibited plant and possess prohibited drug. 

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court next Monday.

Image credit: Port Stephens-Hunter Police District

Hunter Police Given New Powers to Crack Down on Drug Crime

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The NSW Government passed the Drug Supply Prohibition Order Pilot Scheme Bill 2020 on Thursday, providing police across the Hunter new powers to search the persons and properties of convicted drug dealers and manufacturers without a court warrant. 

The powers will be also piloted in Bankstown Police Area Command and the Orana Mid-West and Coffs/Clarence Police Districts alongside the Hunter Valley.

Police Minister David Elliott said the legislation would help police crack down on criminal gangs which profiteered from the manufacturing and distribution of illegal substances.

"This is going to make the life of the drug dealer, the life of the drug manufacturer, just that little bit harder," Mr Elliott said. 

"We're all about disrupting the drug trade."

"This legislation will trial if there's a convicted drug dealer out there and the police have enough evidence to suggest they have not learnt their lesson, they can search their cars and their homes and their premises whenever they need to, to ensure that drug trade is restricted."

A Drug Supply Prohibition Order may be issued by a court if police have reasonable grounds to suspect that evidence exists of drug-related crime.    

Mr Elliott said it was a tool which would go a long way to deter drug crime in the community.

"The four trial areas have been decided upon because of the intelligence that we've been able to gather about the drug trade in those areas, but also we think it will be a fair reflection of the state's demographics," Mr Elliot said.

"We've got metropolitan, we've got regional, we've got areas like the Hunter and Western Sydney. I think that's going to give us a great example, a great sample of how effectively this new law will operate."

The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research will re-evaluate the legislation at the end of the two year pilot period, which is set to begin over the next couple of weeks. 

Man Charged After Police Seize Three Kilograms of Cannabis From Lake Macquarie Home

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A man has been charged after large amounts of drugs and cash were seized at a Bonnells Bay home on Wednesday afternoon.

Officers with the Lake Macquarie Proactive Crime Team executed a search warrant at the Thornbill Drive home at 1pm.

Police recovered 3.5kg of cannabis, 62.4g of amphetamine, 3g of LSD, 16g of tablets believed to be ecstasy and $6631 in cash.

The 40-year-old man was refused bail and will appear in Toronto Local Court on Thursday, charged supplying prohibited drugs and goods in custody.

Man Charged With Possessing Drugs And Explosive Detonators At Weston

BY IAN CROUCH

A man allegedly caught with illegal drugs and explosives at a home in Weston has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Officers searched the home on Fifth Street on Wednesday and seized an amount of methamphetamine, cannabis, more than $10,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia, and explosive detonators.

A 36-year-old man was arrested and faced Newcastle Local Court on Thursday charged with four counts of drug possession, possess, supply or make explosive for unlawful purpose and two counts of goods in custody.

Fairfax reports Brent William Henderson was granted conditional bail to reappear in Cessnock Court next Wednesday.

The explosive devices were safely destroyed by specialist police.

Police allege explosive detonators were found at a Weston home Picture: NSW Police

BREAKING! Police Smash Major Drugs And Firearms Supply Ring In Newcastle

BY IAN CROUCH

Newcastle Police believe they've smashed a major drugs and firearms supply ring following coordinated raids across the city.

Detectives from Strike Force Bassy executed five search warrants in New Lambton, Mayfield, Hamilton and Sandgate yesterday and allegedly seized $30,000 in cash, cannabis, LSD, MDMA, prescription medication, a laptop, mobile phones and other items.


A 24-year-old man was arrested at a home on Turton Road, New Lambton, and was taken to Waratah Police Station. He was charged with possess unauthorised firearm and deal with the proceeds of crime.

A 49-year-old man was arrested at a unit on Beaumont Street, Hamilton, and was taken to Waratah Police Station. He was charged with possess unauthorised firearm and deal with the proceeds of crime.

A 49-year-old man was arrested at a unit on Carrington Street, Mayfield, and was taken to Newcastle Police Station. He was charged with supply prohibited drug.

All three were refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 11 June 2020).

Newcastle City Police District Commander, Detective Superintendent Brett Greentree, said this is a fantastic example of a joint operation between local police and State Crime Command.

“The collaborative effort between our detectives and the Drugs and Firearm Squad has been exceptional – working together to remove a large number of drugs and firearms off the streets.
“These arrests will dismantle some of the local supply chains throughout the Newcastle area.
“Newcastle City officers will continue to target those offenders who are determined to disrupt our community,” Det Supt Greentree said.

Investigations into Strike Force Bassy are continuing with more arrests expected.

One of three men arrested after coordinated raids across Newcastle