Police Have Busted a Millennial Meth Ring in Southern NSW

A five-month-long investigation of a drug ring in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales has culminated in the arrest of twelve people—including the group's 26-year-old alleged leader and a seventeen-year-old boy.

Elaborately-named police operation Strike Force Trinculo was established in March this year as part of an effort to investigate local suppliers of methylamphetamine. On Tuesday morning, detectives used seven search warrants to raid homes in the suburbs of Mount Annan, Edmondson Park, Ambarvale, Bowral, and Moss Vale. As well as making the arrests, they seized methylamphetamine, more than $30 000 cash, two poker machines, a replica pistol, and allegedly stolen property.

The ABC names the drug ring's alleged leader as Charlee Lloyd, a 26-year-old woman who has been charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of drugs, directing a criminal group, recruiting children to carry out criminal activities, and four counts of drug supply. Lloyd was refused bail and appeared in Goulburn Local Court today.

An unnamed 17-year-old boy was also charged with resist or hinder search warrant, resist or hinder police and possessing a prohibited drug. He will appear at a children's court next month. Most of those arrested were in their twenties, with the oldest player being a 50-year-old man charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of drug, participating in a criminal group.

In a statement last night, Acting Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis from The Hume Local Area Command said Strike Force Trinculo "has made significant inroads in the Southern Highlands" and that inquiries are continuing.

"The detectives have worked tirelessly to achieve the results, including the large number of arrests, and we will continue to investigate the supply, distribution, cultivation and manufacture of prohibited drugs," Koutsoufis said.

"These arrests send a strong message to the community and to anyone involved in this type of activity, that it won't be tolerated."

"We will continue to do everything we can to keep drugs off the streets."

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