ONE of four men arrested in Orange as part of a region-wide series of drug raids was denied bail on Tuesday, despite an offer of $2 million surety.
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A covert investigation into an alleged drug syndicate resulted in police arresting seven men across the Central West and the seizure of more than 1.5 kilograms of prohibited drugs, as well as cash and ammunition.
Officers attached to the Central West Police District established Strike Force Pimm in January 2018, to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs across Orange, Sydney, Bathurst and Cowra.
On Tuesday, police arrested Christopher Eid, 32, of Diamond Drive, and charged him with 13 offences including supplying an indictable quantity of prohibited drugs, supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, supplying a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs and dealing with proceeds of crime.
Eid was refused bail, despite offering a surety of $2 million in family-owned property, and will appear in Orange Local Court on Monday where he will be able to apply for bail.
The three other Orange men, who were arrested after police conducted search warrants at several properties in Orange on Wednesday last week, have also been refused bail to appear at Orange Local Court in April.
They included a 19-year-old man who was arrested at a home on Bletchington Street, where officers allegedly seized ammunition and drugs.
He was charged with 15 offences, including supplying prohibited drugs in commercial quantity, supplying prohibited drugs in indictable quantities, and participating in a criminal group. A 20-year-old man was charged with the same offences, while a 21-year-old man faces charges for 25 offences, including supplying prohibited drugs in indictable quantities, supplying prohibited drugs in commercial quantities, and participating in a criminal group.
Central West Police District Commander Acting Superintendent Bruce Grassick said the operation started with an investigation into the supply of cocaine from Sydney to an Orange man.
VIDEO: District Commander Acting Superintendent Bruce Grassick discussing the arrests ...
“It’s an ongoing investigation that basically identified a syndicate of males from Orange who were operating in the area in conjunction with another 32-year-old male in relation to the sale of cocaine, that also stemmed into a methamphetamine supply, MDMA supply as well as MDA,” Acting Superintendent Grassick said.
Pimm officers seized 242 grams of MDMA, 292.7 grams of MDA, 700.2 grams of methylamphetamine, 313 grams of cocaine and $25,000 cash.
Acting Superintendent Bruce Grassick said one of the top priorities for police was removing prohibited drugs from the streets and arresting those who seek to cash in on supplying these poisons to the community.
“As part of this ongoing commitment, officers from Central West Police District will continue to target the illegal drug trade at every level of the supply chain,” Acting Superintendent Grassick said.
“Methylamphetamine or ‘ice’, MDMA, and cocaine are concocted by criminal networks in some of the most revolting conditions, with absolutely no quality control.
“They don’t care about the person buying the product, just the dollars they can reap from perpetuating this miserable cycle of demand and supply.”
There were also three others who were arrested in the region two in Bathurst and another in Cowra.
Two men – aged 28 and 29 – were arrested by officers in Bathurst on Sunday, and charged with goods in custody and dealing with property proceeds of crime.
On Friday officers arrested a 21-year-old man in Cowra and charged him with possessing a prohibited drug, knowingly taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug, and participating in a criminal group. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Cowra Local Court on Friday, March 22.
Acting Superintendent Grassick asked anyone with further information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 immediately.
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