Police allege an Oak Flats man found with drugs and more than $200,000 stashed in his home is at the centre of an Illawarra crime syndicate, a court has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
James Alexander Strickland is facing charges of drug supply, dealing with proceeds of crime and directing the activities of a criminal group after police raided his Wentworth Street home on Monday afternoon as part of Strike Force Rednap, set up in January this year to investigate the supply of illicit substances in the Illawarra.
Police will allege they have electronic and covert surveillance of Strickland arranging to supply eight ounces (237 grams) of the drug ice to another man on Monday.
However, due to starting a new job the same day, Strickland allegedly sought to have his partner meet the buyer instead.
Police claim they recorded the buyer attending Strickland’s house around 1pm carrying a small sports bag.
They said he was inside the premises for about five minutes before leaving, still carrying the bag.
Officers followed the vehicle to Bolong Road in Bomaderry where it was pulled over. They allegedly discovered 237 grams of ice inside the bag.
Meantime, Strickland was arrested at Dunmore later that afternoon. Police allegedly found 103 grams worth of ice stashed in bags inside his underwear.
Meantime, a raid of his house allegedly uncovered more than $200,000 in cash, mobile phones and at least five grams of cocaine and three grams of methylamphetamine.
Strickland was arrested and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station.
Documents tendered to Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday said police were yet to confirm the exact amount of money and drugs discovered at the house however said they were expecting to lay “further, significant charges” in the near future.
Strickland applied for bail but it was refused on account of the strength of the prosecution case.