Third man charged over alleged commercial drug supply in Maitland

newy.com.au – A third man has been charged over alleged commercial drug supply offences following an investigation by the Hunter Region Enforcement Squad.

Police said officers stopped a vehicle in Thornton about 6pm on Wednesday 18 March as part of the ongoing investigation. During a search of the vehicle, police allegedly seized about 18.7 grams of cocaine, 23.85 grams of MDMA, $15,950 in cash and two mobile phones.

A short time later, police executed a search warrant at a home on Chitambo Street at Macquarie Hills, where they allegedly found and seized about 202 grams of cocaine and 270 grams of MDMA. Search warrants were also carried out at homes in Thornton and Rutherford and at a storage unit in Cardiff.

During those searches, police allegedly seized $271,475 in cash, about 6.276 kilograms of MDMA, 195 grams of cocaine, fireworks, two gel blaster firearms, a cash counter and electronics. Two 24-year-old men were arrested and charged later that night and remain before the courts.

About 10am on Monday 23 March, a 21-year-old man was arrested at Newcastle Police Station. He was charged with 11 offences, including four counts of supplying a prohibited drug in a quantity greater than indictable and less than commercial, two counts of supplying a prohibited drug in a quantity greater than small and less than or equal to indictable, supplying a prohibited drug in a commercial quantity, supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime worth less than $100,000, participating in a criminal group and contributing to criminal activity, and breaching bail.

He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Monday, where he was formally refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 20 May 2026.