Police have arrested two 22-year-old men as part of an investigation into drug supply in Griffith.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Deon Peato was arrested and charged in Griffith and Daniel Lico was arrested and charged in Dubbo.
About 6am on Friday, police executed two search warrants at homes in Madden Avenue and Erskine Road, Griffith. During the searches they allegedly located and seized cash, ecstasy, ice, speed and cannabis.
Peato was charged with nine offences relating to the supply of prohibited quantities of ice and ecstasy. Police allegedly found 35 yellow capsules and 27 white tablets in his possession.
Lico, who was originally from Griffith, was charged with 17 offences relating to the supply of cannabis and the supply of indictable quantities of ice and ecstasy allegedly on an ongoing basis. Police allegedly found $3200 cash, 800 grams of cannabis, about 50 grams of ice and 25 grams of capsules believed to be ecstasy.
Both men were also charged with conspiracy to supply a commercial amount of ecstasy.
Peato and Lico appeared in Griffith and Dubbo courts on Friday and were granted conditional bail to appear in Griffith Local Court on August 17 and October 12.
One of Lico’s bail conditions is “not to enter Griffith except to attend court”.
Superintendent Michael Rowan from Griffith Local Area Command said the arrests were the culmination of an earlier operation that saw more than 20 arrests made in relation to drug supply.
“Police have seized a variety of drugs including methylamphetamines (ice), MDMA (ecstasy) and cannabis,” Superintendent Rowan said.
“We’re continuing to target those who supply illicit drugs.”
In June, more than 100 heavily armed police, including officers believed to be from the tactical State Protections Support Unit (SPSU), seized large quantities of cash and drugs in Griffith and Tharbogang as part of Strike Force Kookora.
Police made 21 arrests for charges ranging from possession of indictable quantities of drugs to disposing of stolen goods.
Strike Force Kookora and the subsequent Strike Force Terko were established by officers from Griffith Local Area Command in April 2016 to investigate the supply of ice and ecstasy.
According to Superintendent Rowan, the damage caused to society by illicit drugs was greatly concerning to police.
“The reality is the use of drugs permeates families and causes damage and because of that damage we will continue to target suppliers,” he said.
“The prevalence of drugs is not peculiar to Griffith, sadly it occurs throughout NSW and Australia.
“Quite clearly supply of these drugs causes absolute harm to families and individuals and it has a flow-on effect to society.”
Superintendent Rowan also pointed out police took different approaches to drug users and drug dealers.
“There is help and assistance in the community for those who use these drugs and we treat users differently to suppliers,” he said.
“For users it’s a health issue and for suppliers it’s a crime issue.”