A man already before the courts over an alleged drug supply operation in Tamworth has been hit with further charges, after detectives investigating the matter made fresh arrests this week.
The case began on Friday 22 May, when Oxley Highway Patrol officers attempted to stop a BMW sedan on Jewry Street, Taminda. Police allege the driver failed to stop, triggering a pursuit that continued to the intersection of Duri-Dungowan Road and the New England Highway at Timbumburi, where the vehicle came to a stop and a 43-year-old man was arrested.
Police allege a search of the vehicle uncovered 68 grams of methylamphetamine and $7,445 in cash.
The man was taken to Tamworth Police Station and charged with a string of offences, including police pursuit not stop and drive recklessly, driving recklessly or at a dangerous speed, driving while disqualified, supplying a prohibited drug above an indictable quantity, possessing a prohibited restricted substance, dealing with proceeds of crime above $5,000, and possessing a prohibited weapon without a permit.
Police will allege in court that the man was involved in ongoing drug supply across the Tamworth area. He was refused bail at Bail Division Court 5 on Saturday 23 May and is due to appear at Tamworth Local Court on Monday 3 August.
The arrest formed part of Strike Force Bogangate II, established by Oxley Police District to investigate the ongoing supply of prohibited drugs in the Tamworth area.
On Wednesday 17 June, detectives attached to the strike force travelled to Newcastle Police Station, where the same man was arrested and charged with three further counts of supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, along with one count of supplying a prohibited drug at or above a commercial quantity.
He was again refused bail, appearing before Bail Division Court 2 on Wednesday and is now scheduled to face Tamworth Local Court a second time, on Wednesday 12 August.
Investigations under Strike Force Bogangate II are continuing.
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