Seven people will face Wollongong Court on Thursday after police swooped on an alleged drug dealing ring, seizing motorbikes, cars and cash under proceeds of crime legislation on Wednesday.
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Police from Lake Illawarra Local Area Command searched seven houses in Barrack Heights, Blackbutt, Horsley, Mt Warrigal, Warilla and Windang at 8.20am on Wednesday.
While a small amount of drugs were seized in Wednesday’s raids, the bulk was seized in the four months since an initial Hurstville bust on January 20.
Almost one kilogram of methamphetamine - ice- with an estimated street value of $455,000 was seized during the four-month investigation.
Six men and a 29-year-old woman have been charged.
A 37-year-old man and a 44-year-old man both from Barrack Heights, a 44-year-old Warilla man, a 48-year-old Warrigal man, and a 34-year-old Horsley man were all charged with numerous drug supply matters and participating in a criminal organisation.
A 29-year-old woman from Blackbutt will face several drug charges and dealing in the proceeds of crime.
A 28-year-old Blackbutt man was charged with an outstanding warrant.
They were refused bail on Wednesday and will appear at Wollongong Local Court on Thursday.
Three motorbikes and four cars were seized during Wednesday's raids.
The arrests come as a result of investigations undertaken by Strike Force Erola, which was formed in September 2013 to investigate the supply of methamphetamine in the Lake Illawarra area.
Lake Illawarra crime manager detective inspector Glen Broadhead said the use of drugs in the community was worrying.
‘‘Certainly prohibited durgs are a concern within community,’’ he said.
‘‘Hence the creation of the strike force to deal with the supply of it in parts of Lake Illawarra.’’
Those arrested are not believed to have links to outlaw motorcycle gangs, police said.
