Investigators from Strike Force Guerie – a covert operation by Oxley detectives and the Tamworth Target Action Group – charged a 34-year-old Tamworth man on Thursday with commercial drug supply of methylamphetamine, or ice, and supplying heroin. 

Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O’Reilly told The Leader the man was questioned by investigators at Tamworth Police Station and will now front court next month.

“Police will allege the large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine seized is over 750g and has an estimated street value of $350,000,” he said.

“Police will also allege in court more than 100g of heroin was supplied with an estimated street value in excess of $100,000.

"The 34-year-old is facing a charge of knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime which police will allege was in excess of $150,000 in cash as the proceeds of crime.

“This is a significant quantity of prohibited drugs which has been intercepted before it made the streets.”

If convicted, the charge carries a maximum penalty of life behind bars.

Strike Force Guerie was set up in late 2015 by Oxley police to investigate the supply of illegal drugs.

“During the operation, large quantities of what we allege to be methylamphetamine and heroin were seized,” Chief Inspector O’Reilly said.

Two men remain behind bars charged in connection to the investigation.

The Leader can reveal Jeremy Blair Munro is being held in Tamworth Correctional Centre and is charged with allegedly supplying the drug ice and heroin between April and June this year.

Police allege he was bringing the drug back from Sydney to on-sell into the Tamworth community.

He appeared in Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday where the court heard a copy of the brief of evidence had been lost between defence solicitors in Sydney.  

Solicitor Rae Parker said Munro had applied for Legal Aid after the matter was transferred from Sydney this week.

“We need a brief obviously,” she said, asking for an adjournment.

The court heard the brief is “quite large and involves telephone intercepts and other material.

“Ms Parker is calling out the SES to find out where it is,” Magistrate Roger Prowse told Munro.

According to court documents, Munro was arrested during a car stop in Muswellbrook.

“A Mazda RX8 was seized by police during a vehicle stop in Muswellbrook and will be the subject of asset confiscation proceedings,” Chief Inspector O’Reilly said.

Co-accused Kevin Grant Russell remains behind bars and did not appear in court on Wednesday when his case was called but solicitor Greg Birtles said he would fight the charges against him.

“It will be a contested committal,” he told the court, adding the brief of evidence against his client was extensive.

“It consists of 400 telephone intercepts … vast volume of evidence that I’ve been given.”

Mr Birtles said he would not call witnesses at a committal hearing but would argue there was no case against his client.

He said he wanted further time to narrow down the issues with the prosecution to determine “what particular telephone intercepts they’re going to rely on”.

Russell remains bail refused with the case adjourned to November.

Russell is charged with supplying heroin and ice from January to June between Sydney and Tamworth.

He’s also charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime, as well as possessing heroin after he was stopped in Willow Tree.

According to court documents, Russell was refused bail following his arrest by police from the Tamworth Target Action Group.

The court found it was a strong crown case and included telephone intercepts and other surveillance material.