Local Lismore businessperson Sarah Morrow was granted conditional bail last week after being charged with 11 offences relating to the supply and possession of a prohibited drug and the possession of an unauthorised firearm and ammunition.

There are four charges for "Take part supply prohibited drug commercial quantities".

The bail hearing stems from six arrests, including Sarah Morrow, on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

In February this year, Strike Force McClelland was established by officers attached to the Northern Rivers Region Enforcement Squad (NRRES) to investigate the ongoing supply of prohibited drugs in the Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, and Evans Head areas.

As part of ongoing investigations, officers attached to the NRRES, assisted by the Tactical Operations Unit, stopped a vehicle at a service station in Chinderah about 1.10pm on Wednesday, 31 July 2024.

Three people in the vehicle, a 37-year-old woman, and two men aged 28 and 51, were arrested at the scene.

About 1.30pm on the same day, officers attached to Northern Operations, Tweed/Byron and Richmond Police District executed three search warrants simultaneously in Evans Head and Tweed Heads, while officers from the Queensland Police Service executed three search warrants on the Gold Coast on behalf of NSW Police.

Among the items located and seized were seven pistols, one shotgun, one rifle, nine gel blasters, three electronic stun devices, knuckle dusters, flick knives, batons, handcuffs, cocaine, more than a litre of GBL, steroids, almost 1.5kg of methamphetamine, fireworks, and almost $40,000 in cash.

Police then laid charges against the three people arrested at Chinderah, with an additional two men and a woman subsequently arrested and charged.

At the time, a total of 147 offences were laid by officers attached to Strike Force McClelland.

Sarah was refused bail initially before being granted conditional bail last week, Thursday, 29 August, 2024.

The conditions includes;

• Reporting to the Lismore Police Station three times a week
• Not to go within 5km of the Evans Head Post Office
• Must stay each night at a Lismore LGA address
• Must not drink alcohol or take drugs not prescribed by a doctor
• Surrender passport

The bail acknowledgement is "To be of good behaviour and not commit further offences".

Sarah Morrow has put up $20,000 bail security to comply with the acknowledgement, while another 'acceptable' person has put up $10,000.

Sarah's next step is to appear for a committal hearing on Thursday, October 17, at the Ballina Local Court.

The Lismore App understands that at a committal hearing, police will present evidence, and a judge will determine whether there is enough evidence to move matters to the District Court.

Local Court has a maximum jail sentence of 2 years, whereas District Court hears cases for more serious crimes with potential longer jail sentences.