IT’S culminated in the arrest and charge of 19 people, but special police operation Strikeforce Coull is by no means over yet.
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Hume Local Area Command’s crime manager, Detective Inspector Chad Gillies, said officers tied to Strikeforce Coull are still on the clock.
“We’ll still investigate these matters and we’ve still got to put briefs together,” he said on Wednesday in relation to a combined 170 outstanding charges of supplying prohibited drugs.
In the space of three days, police executed 16 search warrants and unearthed more than an ounce-and-a-half of methylamphetamine (commonly known as ice), two kilograms of cannabis, a bottle of gamma-Butyrolactone and an unregistered firearm.
Most of the searches were conducted in Goulburn, with additional raids carried out at Carlingford, in Sydney’s west.
Police searched homes in Churchill Avenue, Taralga Road, Barry Crescent, Howard Boulevard and Werriwa and Broughton Streets in the early hours of the morning of October 21.
Two days later, they followed through on warrants to search properties in Kent, Elm, Avoca and Francis Streets.
One of the accused, 37-year-old Paul King, remains at large.
Magistrate Geraldine Beattie on October 22 issued a warrant for King’s arrest. In his absence from Goulburn Local Court, he was found guilty of some 16 charges – including knowingly supplying a prohibited drug.
As of Wednesday morning, police were yet to apprehend King.
“He’s linked to our Strikeforce Coull operation,” Detective Inspector Gillies continued.
“There are 19 in the docks at the moment; hopefully King will be number 20.”
Of those 20, at least nine have progressed through the legal system.
Wendy Hayhoe was the first of the accused to face court. She was refused bail and had her matter adjourned until November 19 when she appeared in the docks at Goulburn Local Court on Tuesday, October 21.
Mrs Hayhoe sobbed uncontrollably, before yelling “no, no, no” in response to Magistrate Beattie’s order that she remain in jail.
“I note the pleas of guilty, but clearly a custodial sentence is within range,” the magistrate said.
“I adjourn this matter, pending a pre-sentence report, until November 19.”
A further six of those arrested and charged under Strikeforce Coull appeared at Goulburn Local Court the following day, October 22.
King was a notable absentee.
Of those six, all bar one were refused bail and ordered to remain in custody until their next appearances.
Julie Anne Geale, John Edward Ikin, Brooke Emily Pollack, Kristy Lee Taunton and Luke John Wagner were all refused bail and had their matters adjourned.
Pollack faces a total of 55 charges – 54 of which are for supplying illegal drugs. Taunton is staring down the barrel at 46 charges.
Jessie Staples on October 23 pleaded guilty to 15 charges of supplying a prohibited drug. He was refused bail and will next appear on November 26.
The series of arrests and subsequent charges preceded another major police sting at a musical festival at Wee Jasper, near Yass.
A total of 74 people were found to be in possession of drugs including cannabis, ecstasy, heroin, ice and magic mushrooms during the Dragon Dreaming electronic dance music festival from October 24-27.
“Police were kept busy during the festival with 17 people found with prohibited drugs in the first two hours of the operation,” Inspector Evan Quarmby explained.