ONE of the men at the centre of the Tamworth "ice castle" police sting has been captured after six months on the run.
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Ashley John Hoye is behind bars after his arrest in Sydney in late January.
There had been warrants out for the 41-year-old's arrest since June after police couldn't pinpoint the whereabouts of their suspect, who was wanted in connection to the Tamworth drug supply ring.
He is facing charges of supplying more than an indictable quantity of ice, as well as participating in a criminal group by contributing to criminal activity.
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He fronted Penrith Local Court in Sydney last week and made no bid for release during the court proceedings. He did not enter pleas to the charges.
Magistrate Geoff Hiatt refused bail, ordering the man to remain in custody until he fronts Tamworth Local Court.
He also had two charges of intimidation and contravening an AVO adjourned to Mudgee Local Court for mention later this week.
Police have been searching for Hoye since the investigation unfolded with raids in Tamworth at the end of May.
Detectives allege Hoye was involved in the supply chain of prohibited drugs that was being run out of a headquarters in a housing commission unit, referred to as the "ice castle" in Petra Avenue, Tamworth.
After exhausting all avenues to find Hoye, Oxley detectives applied for an arrest warrant, which was granted in Tamworth court.
Strike Force Radius was set up to bring down an alleged ice and gun supply ring in Tamworth.
The police sting involved Oxley detectives and officers from the Tamworth Target Action Group.
Close to 30 men and women have been charged as part of the operation - which is one of the biggest ever conducted by Oxley police - with arrests in Sydney, Central Coast, Dubbo, the Hunter, Uralla and Tamworth.
Stephen Ross Hanshaw is alleged to be one of the main culprits; police claim he was operating the "ice castle business" out of his Petra Avenue housing commission unit.
He's behind bars on more than 40 drug supply and gun charges, including supply of a large commercial quantity of drugs. He could face life imprisonment if found guilty.
One man remains on the run. Aden Mohamed has warrants out for his arrest after allegedly skipping court and going on the run from police in Tamworth in July last year.
The then-28-year-old was arrested when Oxley police raided an Anthony Road home in Tamworth just before 1pm on March 25.
Inside, they allegedly uncovered almost 100g of methlyamphetamine, or ice, cannabis and cash.
Officers claimed at the time the ice had an estimated street value of $47,000. It's the police case that the drugs were to be supplied in the local Tamworth area.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
