Pubdate: Mon, 26 Feb 2001
Source: Illawarra Mercury (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 Illawarra Newspapers
Contact:  282 Keira St, Wollongong NSW 2500
Fax: (02) 4226 3616
Website: http://www.illawarramercury.com/
Author: Cydonee Mardon

COVERT COPS PROVE WORTH IN WAR ON DRUGS

A team of undercover police officers dedicated to disrupting the Illawarra 
drug trade has proved its worth after just one month of operation.

The 10 specialist officers have laid 223 charges in four weeks.

The man in charge, Lake Illawarra crime manager Peter Woods, said drugs 
underpinned almost all crimes in the command and targeting the users and 
dealers was proving effective.

``In the last two weeks the squad has arrested 13 car thieves,'' Chief 
Inspector Woods said.

``That shows that through their drug investigations, they are solving other 
crimes.''

Insp Woods said 67 people had been arrested and charged with 223 offences 
including possessing and supplying a range of drugs, robberies and break, 
enter and steals.

He said people had also been nabbed for failing to appear at court and 
arrested on outstanding warrants.

The drug squad, which acts on information gathered by themselves and by 
detectives and general duties officers, is made up of police from Lake 
Illawarra and the South East Region Target Arrest Group.
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