Women charged for street-dealing at the Block

Five Aboriginal women appeared at Central Local Court last week over charges of supplying heroin at Redfern’s The Block.

Police have not reported the amount of heroin confiscated, but the three charges that specified amounts were between 30 and 60 milligrams, a street value of up to $30 each.

No weapons or other contraband was reported.

Police raided two fortified homes on Hugo and Caroline Streets after an ongoing three-and-a-half month investigation named operation Guru.

Police say the operation is a response to concerns about ongoing drug supply and associated criminal activity in the Block.

Redfern Local Area Commander Detective Superintendent Luke Freudenstein says this is the second series of arrests and significant intelligence has been gathered.

“The more attention we give to drug-related activities the bigger the drop in other crime categories,” he said.

“I can promise the community that these targeted investigations will continue and so will the arrests.”

Two of the charged were a mother and daughter allegedly operating out of their public housing residence on Hugo Street.

The mother’s two other children, aged 15 and 17, also live at the address.

The other defendants were from Waterloo and Marrickville, aged 21, 35 and 44.

The raids were instigated by a tip off from locals.

Det Supt Freudenstein says most who live in the Block are not involved in drug crime and are very supportive of the police actions.

“We will maintain our vigilance and increase our efforts and I warn anyone coming into Redfern to buy drugs that the odds of being arrested is almost guaranteed.”

Last year NSW Police charged 15 per cent more females than a decade earlier, according to research by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. The amount of males charged over the same period remained unchanged.

The Bureau says this may be a result of tougher law enforcement rather than more crime.

By Lawrence Bull