A man and teenage boy are among five people charged during a rural crime operation in the state's Murray River region.
Operation Brushwood was conducted last week in the Murray River Police District between Thursday (5 August 2021) and Sunday (8 August 2021), and targeted illegal hunting, trespass and other crimes in regional and remote areas.
Throughout the operation, officers conducted property and safe firearms storage inspections. Officers also conducted checks on paperwork to accompany the movement of livestock.
Police conducted three Firearms/Weapons Prohibition Orders checks, straying livestock inspections and 40 vehicle stops.
Five people were charged with offences including breach firearms prohibition order, supply prohibited drug, possess ammunition without permit and possess knife in public place.
24 infringement notices were also issued.
During one incident, officers attached to the Rural Crime Prevention Team were patrolling the Cobb Highway at Wanganella when they stopped the driver of a utility with Victorian registration, just before 6.30pm on Friday (6 August 2021).
During a search of the man's vehicle, police allegedly located cocaine, cannabis and ketamine.
The 40-year-old man and his passenger, a 17-year-old boy – both from Victoria - were arrested and taken to Deniliquin Police Station.
They were each charged with three counts of possess prohibited drug, supply drug indictable quantity, possess prohibited weapon, not register companion – animal, not identify companion – animal, and dog not wear collar.
Both were granted strict conditional bail, with the man to appear in Deniliquin Local Court on Tuesday 5 October 2021, while the boy will face a children's court.
The pair was escorted back to Victoria, where they were issued a COVID-19 fine by police there.
Operation Brushwood will continue throughout regional areas.
Anyone with information about rural crime incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
