Police have seized more than 45kgs of cannabis during a police operation in western NSW.
Operation Furious was conducted on the Sturt Highway between Monday 8 July 2024 and concluded on Friday (12 July 2024), and utilised intelligence to target known locations for traffic offences.
The high-visibility operation, involving officers from Barrier Police District's Traffic and Highway Patrol, and aims to reduce injury and death on local roads.
During the operation, police conducted 420 random breath tests, and issued 25 traffic infringement notices, 20 speeding infringements, with two drivers testing positive to illicit substances – the results of which will undergo further analysis.
Incidents of note:
- About 10.10am on Tuesday 9 July 2024, officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a Grey Toyota Grand Hiace on the Sturt Highway, Yanga, after it was allegedly detected speeding. The driver was subject to a breath and drug test and returned a positive result to cannabis. During a search of the vehicle, police located and seized 8.5kg of cannabis.
The 59-year-old man was arrested and taken to Balranald Police Station for a secondary oral fluid test which will be sent for further analysis. He was charged with supply prohibited drug over indictable and under commercial quantity, and possess prohibited drug. The South Australian man was given conditional bail to appear at Hay Local Court on Monday 2 September 2024.
- Traffic and Highway Patrol officers were patrolling the Sturt Highway, Yanga, when they stopped a white Ford Transit van for a random breath test, about 1.40pm on Wednesday (10 July 2024). The driver was subject to a road and drug test, returning a negative result. After speaking with the driver, during a search of the vehicle police located and seized 40.8kg a cannabis and cash.
The driver – a 54-year-old man – was arrested and taken to Balranald Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug over commercial quantity, possess prohibited drug, and recklessly deal with proceeds of crime under $5000. The Theresa Park man was refused bail and appeared at Broken Hill Local Court on Thursday (11 July 2024), where he was formally refused bail to appear Wentworth Local Court on Tuesday 3 September 2024.
The cannabis seized has an estimated potential street value of about $740,000.
Similar operations are expected in the future throughout Western NSW.
