Four men have been charged as part of an investigation into the alleged supply of firearms and drugs in the Hunter, with one man facing 31 charges after his arrest at Wallsend on Wednesday afternoon.
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Detectives from Newcastle City Police District and the State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Bassy in May to investigate the supply of methamphetamine and guns in Newcastle.
Police executed six search warrants in New Lambton, Mayfield, Hamilton, Sandgate and Wallsend on Wednesday, seizing almost $30,000 cash, cannabis, LSD, MDMA, prescription medication, a laptop, mobile phones and other items.
During the raids, a 24-year-old man was arrested at a home on Turton Road, New Lambton, and charged with possess unauthorised firearm and deal with the proceeds of crime.
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A 49-year-old man was arrested at a unit on Beaumont Street, Hamilton, and charged with possess unauthorised firearm and deal with the proceeds of crime.
A 49-year-old man was arrested at a unit on Carrington Street, Mayfield. He was charged with supply prohibited drug.
And a 47-year-old man faces 31 charges after he was arrested - as part of investigations by another action group, Strike Force Uabba - at a property on Douglas Street, Wallsend.
Police said all were refused bail and will face Newcastle Local Court today.
Newcastle police commander Superintendent Brett Greentree said on Thursday morning he expected more search warrants and arrests to follow as the strike force 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."
