The November phase of a high visibility police operation in the state’s north west was conducted yesterday as police endeavour to stamp out crime within rural communities.
Operation Wagonwheel 2019 was conducted in the Werris Creek and Quirindi sector yesterday (Thursday 21 November 2019), targeting antisocial behaviour, drug and traffic enforcement, and general compliance.
During the one-day operation, officers attached to Oxley Police District conducted 306 random breath tests, 28 random drug tests, five person searches, three vehicle searches, 12 ADVO compliance checks, two bail compliance checks, two rural patrols and two business inspections.
Officers issued one traffic infringement notice and detected one licensing offence.
Shortly after 9pm yesterday (Thursday 21 November 2019), police stopped a utility on Henry Street at Quirindi for the purpose of a random breath and drug test.
The driver, a man aged 30, produced a positive drug detection for methylamphetamine.
Police conducted a vehicle search during which a butterfly knife and a large hunting style knife were located and seized.
Officers also located a small case under the passenger seat allegedly containing drug paraphernalia, a small resealable bag of methylamphetamine and MDMA.
The man was arrested and taken to Quirindi Police Station for a secondary oral fluid test.
He was charged with possess prohibited weapon without permit and custody of knife in public place.
The 26-year-old female passenger was also arrested and taken to Quirindi Police Station where she was charged with possess prohibited drug (x2), supply prohibited drug, and breach of bail.
They were issued Future Court Attendance Notices to appear before Quirindi Local Court on Wednesday 18 December 2019.
Over the past 12 months, police conducting Operation Wagonwheel 2019 have produced the following results:
- RBT stationary/ mobile – 5179
- RDTs – 281
- Traffic infringements – 117
- Drug detections – 14
- Vehicle searches – 55
- ADVO compliance checks – 99
- Person searches – 102
- Bail checks – 44
- Search warrants – 4
- Charges – 56
