South Grafton man hit with 45 charges after $623K drug haul

A major police operation has led to the arrest of a man in South Grafton, with officers seizing more than $623,000 worth of illicit drugs, cash, and an electronic stun device.

In September 2024, detectives from the Coffs Harbour Region Enforcement Squad (RES) launched Strike Force Spalding to investigate large-scale drug supply across the Coffs/Clarence region. Following months of inquiries, police executed coordinated search warrants at eight properties in South Grafton just after 7am on Wednesday 10 September 2025.

The operation involved multiple specialist units, including Northern Rivers and Hunter RES, the North Coast Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team, Operation Utah, the Dog Squad, PolAir, the NSW Crime Commission, and local officers from the Coffs/Clarence Police District.

During the searches, police allegedly uncovered 1.25 kilograms of methylamphetamine, 3.63 kilograms of cannabis leaf, 326 grams of cocaine, and 180 grams of MDMA. They also seized almost $110,000 in cash believed to be proceeds of crime, along with an electronic stun device.

The 32-year-old man was arrested and taken to Grafton Police Station where he was charged with 45 offences, including:

- 16 counts of supplying a prohibited drug (more than indictable and less than commercial quantity)

- Four counts of supplying a prohibited drug (equal to or more than commercial quantity)

- Four counts of supplying a prohibited drug (equal to or more than large commercial quantity)

- Four counts of supplying cannabis (more than indictable and less than commercial quantity)

- 12 counts of possessing a prohibited drug

- Two counts of dealing with the proceeds of crime

- Possess or attempt to possess a prescribed restricted substance

- Fail to comply with a digital evidence access order direction

Police say the charges reflect the scale of the alleged operation uncovered during the strike force investigation. The man was refused bail and appeared before Bail Division Court 1 on Thursday 11 September 2025.

Authorities have described the seizure as a significant disruption to drug supply networks operating in northern New South Wales.

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