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Collapse Issue 394 - 30 May 2016Issue 394 - 30 May 2016
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Committee structure to give community a voice
Underpass open by September, says department
New bike shed opened at station
Wicks promises $2.7 million for road repairs
Shorten addresses 400 at Country Club
Police seize commercial quantity of prohibited drugs
Council targets speed in Bourke Rd
Trivia lunch sends four Ethopian girls to school
Executive structure adopted by Central Coast Council
No big planning decisions, says council chief
Administrator visits Woy Woy depot
Administrator comes out of semi-retirement
Funding granted for office extension
War medals are still missing
Mounted police visit the beach
Police hold session at Mingaletta
Business woman addresses Rotary club
EPA claims support for efforts to identify bird deaths
Mass media ignores campaign, says candidate
Road safety talk at seniors' centre
PCYC benefits from major fundraiser
New fire truck for Patonga
The Bays' history book available
Anzac Day with family
Five receive awards for excellence
Classes attend swim school
Red Hatters meet in Umina
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
Vanity project or a rort?
No community of interest with western hinterland
Elect news editors, academics and armchair critics
Eye-catching and informative
Who cares what happens in Woy Woy
Anzac service is not an entertainment
Hotel proposal is over-development
Hotel plans should not be at neighbours' expense
ADSL was vastly superior
Continuing 15 years of management restructure
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
Cup cake challenge to raise money for Cancer Council
Donations wanted to help feed disadvantaged
NSW Minister learns of radiotherapy scholarships
Peninsula Village holds dinner for volunteers
Dementia home looks for volunteers
Charity group had 48 bowlers
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Bouddi Foundation makes arts grants
Four concerts held by progress association
Theatre production gives glimpse of enemy invasion
Crafts centre suffers from vandalism
Arts grants winners will show their work
Art review closes soon
Centenary exhibition
Tickets will be on sale soon
Combining musical career and motherhood
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
Education department pays canteen wage
School attendance is valuable, says principal
Principal warns against bribery tactic
Private childcare provided at school
Paper plane competition
Preparing for art show
Breakfast club during term two
Cake stall for Stewart House
Projects continue at Woy Woy South
Guest speakers were highlights for principal
Cricket chase for Umina Beach
Special assembly about dinosaurs
Teenage expo visits college
School presented with flags
Kindergarten enrolment starts
Lessons in positive behaviour
Kindergarten open day
Playground upgrade
Responsible pet program
Reading resources room transformed
Excursions to Rumbalara
Two new staff members welcomed
New website for Ettalong school
Students visit writers' festival
Winners in zone cross country
Students march in Woy Woy
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Outrigger canoe team competes internationally
Peninsula wins Australian Floorball Open
Lions win soccer match, but loss for Umina
Boardriders benefit from club sponsorship
Lorna Buckworth Trophy
Surprise award for netball officer

Police seize commercial quantity of prohibited drugs

Police have seized prohibited drugs with an estimated street value of $1.5 million in raids on the Peninsula.

Search warrants across the Peninsula as part of Strike Force Bamberry have resulted in the arrest of three Umina men and a Woy Woy woman, as well as the drug seizure.

Strike Force Bamberry, comprising officers from Brisbane Water Local Area Command, was established in December 2015 to investigate the manufacture and distribution of prohibited drugs on the Central Coast.

After ongoing investigations, Strike Force detectives arrested two 20-year-old men on Wednesday afternoon, May 25.

One of the men, from Umina, was charged with eight offences including supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group.

The second 20-year-old man, also from Umina, was charged with a total of 19 offences including supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug, supply indictable quantity of a prohibited drug and knowingly participate in a criminal group.

The two with a third man from Sydney's St Clair who was arrested at Kariong, were all refused bail to appear before Gosford Local Court on Thursday, May 26.

Following the arrests, police executed 11 search warrants for properties at Umina, Woy Woy, Horsfield Bay and Ettalong as well as a number of Sydney properties.

The operation involved Brisbane Water Police with assistance from the Tactical Operations Unit, Public Order and Riot Squad, Operations Support Group, Dog Unit and PolAir.

While executing the warrants, police located and seized amounts of MDMA, MDA, GHB, cocaine, cannabis, methylamphetamine ('ice') and steroids with a combined estimated potential street value of more than $1.5 million.

A number of further items were seized from the properties, including two vehicles and an extendable baton, which will undergo forensic examination, as well as $125,000 in cash, believed to be the proceeds of crime.

Strike Force detectives also identified a storage unit in Waterloo during the operation where they executed another search warrant and uncovered more than 1.5 tons of precursor chemicals believed to be used in the large-scale manufacture of prohibited drugs.

A fourth man, and a woman, were arrested during the operation.

A 21-year-old Umina man was charged with a total of 18 offences including supply commercial quantity of prohibited drug, supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug, supply indictable quantity of prohibited drug, and knowingly participate in a criminal group.

He was refused bail and faced Hornsby Local Court on Thursday, May 26.

The 34-year-old woman, of Woy Woy, was charged with five offences of supplying an indictable quantity of prohibited drug.

She was granted conditional bail to appear before Gosford Local Court on Tuesday, June 21.

Brisbane Water Local Area Commander, Superintendent Danny Sullivan, said the operation was the culmination of several months of investigations.

"Strike Force Bamberry detectives have been working incredibly hard for six months, all of which has culminated in yesterday's search warrants and numerous arrests," Supt Sullivan said.

"It's clear that those arrested during the operation were members of an elaborate syndicate that had been operating across the Peninsula for some time.

"I can assure the community that we will continue to hunt down those who seek to manufacture and distribute these substances within our neighbourhoods," Supt Sullivan said.

"These drugs can destroy lives - they're not only illegal - but they can also be very harmful to your health, if not fatal.

"I'd also like to remind members of the public they should never underestimate the immensely positive impact one anonymous call to Crime Stoppers can make," Supt Sullivan said.

"If you see something you're concerned about, I urge you to come forward, only then can police take action to make it stop."

Strike Force detectives are continuing their investigations.





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