A 67-year-old man is facing charges after police seized drugs and weapons as part of on ongoing cross-border investigation into drug trafficking in the Echuca-Moama area.
The joint operation between Victoria Police and NSW Police was led by detectives from Campaspe Crime Investigation Unit and Deniliquin Crime Investigation Unit (NSW), with support from Echuca and Rochester uniform police, Dog Squad and Australian Border Force.
“These arrests are a significant step towards minimising drug-related crime, which has a devastating impact on the entire community from drug-fuelled violence and burglaries to drug-related road trauma, family violence and sexual assaults,” said Detective Sergeant Barry Gray of the Campaspe Crime Investigation Unit.
“In addition to this, we have removed several illegal firearms and dangerous weapons from our streets, which could potentially lead to disastrous consequences in the wrong hands.
“Victoria Police and NSW Police are committed to working together to target drug-related crime across the Victoria-NSW border, and together we will catch those criminals who prey on the vulnerable and hold them to account.”
Police executed four search warrants at residential and commercial properties in Echuca and Rochester on Friday and seized various quantities of illicit drugs including approximately 3.8kgs of cannabis, and small quantities of cocaine and ecstasy.
They also seized an imitation firearm, explosives, ammunition, and numerous allegedly stolen items.
Following enquires, police arrested and charged two men:
• a 26-year-old Echuca man who was charged with: handle stolen goods; prohibited person possess imitation firearm; three counts of possess prohibited weapon; possess explosive; possess cartridge ammunition without licence; possess cocaine; and possess ecstasy to face Echuca Magistrate’s Court on 19 April 2022.
• a 67-year-old Echuca man who was charged with: traffic cannabis; possess cannabis; and possess prohibited weapon to face Echuca Magistrate’s Court on 19 April 2022.
NSW Police officers also executed a search warrant at a rural residential property in Moama where they seized two firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, a small amount of cannabis, quantities of powder-like substances, and $3000 in cash.
Victoria Police detectives attended the address and suspended the occupant’s firearms licence.
Anyone with information about drug-related crime is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
