Police have seized 23g of cocaine and laid charges against a man after a search on a Forbes home.
It's alleged police found the cocaine, and seized a mobile phone and items they describe as indicative of drug supply, when they executed a search warrant at 7.05am Thursday, 4 September.
A 44-year-old man was arrested at the address, NSW Police said in a statement released to media.
He has been charged with supply prohibited drug more than indictable and less than commercial quantity and possess prohibited drug, and granted conditional bail to appear before Forbes Local Court in October.
The local arrest was one of more than 290 across NSW as police took part in the national, week-long Operation Vitreus.
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Operation Vitreus is a joint initiative between all Australian state and territory police agencies, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, AUSTRAC, Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and New Zealand Police.
The NSW Police operation – led by State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad – saw 291 arrests, resulting in 433 charges, and the seizure of more than $2 million worth of illicit drugs.
Detective Superintendent Peter Faux, Commander of NSW Police Force’s Organised Crime Squad, said the combined efforts of all agencies reinforced the commitment to disrupting drug supply and organised crime.
“Operation Vitreus involves representatives from all law enforcement and intelligence agencies across Australia and New Zealand and is a reminder that police continue to disrupt the supply of illicit drugs across the country,” Det Supt Faux said.
“Collaborative efforts are vital to the operation’s success and we will continue to work with other law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions to prevent harmful drugs from entering the community.
“A significant number of people are now before the courts for drug related offences due to the success of the national week of action.
“We are sending a clear message: if you possess, supply or import prohibited drugs, you are committing a crime and it won’t be long before you come to the attention of law enforcement.”
NSW Police would also like to remind the public about the health issues of these drugs targeted during Operation Vitreus:
Illicit drug use carries inherent risks and taking even a known substance can result in unintended harm.
The consumption of alcohol and other drugs is a major cause of preventable disease and illness in Australia.
The harms from drug use impact – directly and indirectly – on all Australian communities, families and individuals. Impacts range across the spectrum of health, social and economic harms. Health harms include injuries, chronic conditions and diseases, mental health problems, road trauma, and overdose.
Methamphetamine
The health harms associated with the use of methamphetamine and other stimulants include mental illness, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular problems and overdose.
People who inject methamphetamine and share needles are at increased risk of contracting hepatitis C, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS as well as infection and vein damage.
Methamphetamine production often relies on unknown and/or harmful ingredients. This can further increase the health risks associated with consumption.
GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate)
Consumption of GHB can cause drowsiness, vomiting, mood swings and dependence. GHB use carries a high risk of unconsciousness, respiratory collapse and overdose because there is very little difference between the amount that it is typically consumed and the amount that will cause overdose.
The risk of GHB overdose increases when its use is combined with other drugs such as alcohol, benzodiazepines and opioids.
Synthetic opioids including fentanyl and nitazenes
The negative health consequences of opioids, including synthetic opioids includes dependence, infectious disease transmission (primarily through risky injecting practice) and death from overdose.
Synthetic opioids can be extremely potent which increases the risk of health harms including overdose.
People who use other drugs such as heroin and cocaine may inadvertently consume synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and nitazenes when it is used as an adulterant. Synthetic opioids have also be found in counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs. Inherently this kind of exposure increases the risk of overdose.
The Take Home Naloxone (THN) Program makes naloxone, a medicine that temporarily reverse the effects of opioids (including synthetic opioids), available for free, without the need for a prescription, to people who may experience, or witness an opioid overdose.
The National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline provides free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs treatment services on 1800 250 015.
Drugs are unpredictable and they can affect people in different ways.
Call 000 for an ambulance immediately if there is even the slightest risk that someone is having an unusual reaction to a drug.
Emergency services will only notify police if there is a risk to their own personal safety or if someone dies.
This information provided by NSW Police.
