THREE men are behind bars and detectives have seized nearly $30,000 in cash, drugs and weapons during six sweeping raids across Newcastle following an investigation into the ongoing supply of firearms and methamphetamine.
And police say that Wednesday morning's raids at New Lambton, Mayfield, Hamilton, Sandgate and Wallsend are just the beginning with more search warrants and arrests planned as part of a joint strike force between the State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad and Newcastle City detectives.
Jason Shane Dippel, 47, of Wallsend, has been charged with supplying varying quantities of methamphetamine on nearly 30 occasions at Wallsend, Fern Bay, Cardiff, Jesmond, Valentine and Bankstown over the last two months.
Mr Dippel, who was arrested in a raid at Wallsend by detectives attached to Strike Force Uabba, is accused of running his house in Douglas Street as a drug premises and supplying 183 grams of methylamphetamine during one transaction on May 29.
Mr Dippel, who was represented by solicitor Iain Bruce, did not appear in Newcastle Local Court on Thursday, apply for bail or enter any pleas.
The five other raids on Wednesday were the culmination of an investigation by Strike Force Bassy detectives into the supply of drugs and guns in Newcastle.
During those raids, police arrested Timothy Michael Jordan, 49, at Hamilton, Corby Northey, 24, at New Lambton and David William Forbes, 49, at Mayfield.
Mr Jordan and Mr Northey are both charged with possession of an unauthorised firearm and dealing with the proceeds of crime. Neither man applied for bail.
Only Mr Forbes, who is also represented by Mr Bruce, was granted conditional bail. Mr Forbes was arrested after a raid at Mayfield and charged with supplying a prohibited drug relating to 15 grams of MDMA.
Newcastle police commander Superintendent Brett Greentree said he expected more search warrants and arrests to follow as investigations continue.
"What we think we've done is really disrupted them around the greater Newcastle area," he said. "Both these strike forces - which are connected - and with the assistance of our State Crime Command colleagues, have disrupted what I would say is a very active and profitable local supply chain here in the Newcastle area.
"Gun-related crime is always an issue, no matter what it is, obviously because of the danger involved in firearms.
"We became aware of some [alleged] firearm dealing in the Newcastle area, we are happy that we have disrupted that and I should add that we are continuing to focus on that - not just the firearms but the drug supply."
"Both these strike forces... have disrupted what I would say is a very active and profitable local supply chain here in the Newcastle area.
Newcastle police Superintendent Brett Greentree said.
