Task Force Southern: Police find 300 bullets near Clare in investigation of three drug murders in Adelaide’s south

New arrests have been made linked to a vehicle theft after police found hundreds of bullets while searching for a missing man.

Police have now found more than 300 bullets, believed to be evidence in the hunt for missing man Robert Atkins.

It comes as Task Force Southern detectives on Saturday morning arrested a couple over a stolen excavator linked to suspects in the murder investigation.

The excavators was used in the Mid North and seized on July 12 by Northern Territory police after a Borroloola property was raided. The excavator worth $50,000 and trailer was stolen from a Meadows property in November 2019, and “is linked to suspects in the investigation”, a police spokesperson said.

Just before 9.30am Saturday, Major Crime detectives attended a property on Booborowie Rd at Booborowie and arrested a man, 60 and a woman, 57 and charged them with theft.

No further charges have been laid yet and the pair will appear in court in Clare in September.

The extensive police search at Spalding, near Clare, was suspended on Friday evening, but will continue over the coming days.

The excavator theft is believed to be linked to suspects in the Task Force Southern investigation. Picture: SA Police

Earlier, police said two people seen acting suspiciously on a bridge in the state’s Mid North were dumping evidence in the murder of missing man.

Police divers searched the Hutt River at Spalding – and along the Goyder Highway, north of Clare – for the gun used to murder Mr Atkins.

The Hutt River used to be a popular swimming hole for locals a couple of years ago.

More than 200 bullets were found during the search on Friday, putting the total number of bullets found at over 300.

Ten empty ammunition boxes were also bagged for evidence, but the gun is yet to be found.

Mr Atkins is one of at least three men police believe were murdered by drug dealers in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, and was held captive, tortured for up to week and murdered.

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A middle-aged couple – thought to be locals – were seen acting suspiciously on the bridge in June, Detective Superintendent Des Bray said.

He said the couple were seen about 3:45pm on Wednesday, June 22, on Broughton Valley Road near the bridge over the Hutt River, south of Spalding.

Police later found bullets for a .38-calibre pistol and packaging, from which they are confident they will obtain fingerprints and/or DNA.

“We know that … a couple were seen just near the bridge, acting suspiciously when a truck went past,” Det Supt Bray said.

Police divers search a river near Spalding, in the state’s Mid North, for the murder weapon thought to have been used in the death of Robert Atkins. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

“It appears they became spooked on seeing the truck and left the area immediately and then returned a few minutes later when they thought there was nobody in the area and nobody left to see them.

“We know that they got out of the vehicle and they disposed of what we believe to be ammunition and also a firearm, which we suspect may have been used in the murder of Robert.”

About 37 officers including specialist divers and STAR Group officers are searching in two separate areas around Spalding and Booborowie, hunting for the gun used to kill Mr Atkins and more ammunition.

Another bullet is found in the search for evidence in the murder of Robert Atkins. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier.

“We believe the people seen at the bridge on June 22 may have been disposing evidence on behalf of a suspect in Robert’s murder,” Det Supt Bray said.

“I’m very optimistic … we may have a witness that may be able to identify the couple and the vehicle. We will be having an interview with them in the near future.”

He said police expected to recover DNA and fingerprints from the bullets and packaging, and identify the couple.

“It may also lead to convictions of anyone who assisted murder suspects,” he said.

“To assist offenders before, during or after a murder is a very serious offence and those people should expect to go to prison.”

The police suggested now is the time for them to come forward and tell police what they know.

@SAPoliceNews are searching for a weapon and ammunition in what they believed was used in the murder of an Adelaide man. About 37 police are at the scene. Read the story https://t.co/[e-mail]/jygmOaRZeP

— Tia Ewen (@tia_ewen) July 15, 2022

“If anyone has found bullets or packaging along RM Williams Way or the Goyder Highway near Spalding please also contact Crime Stoppers.”

Police said Mr Atkins had been taken into scrub around Orroroo where he was executed.

A composite image from SA Police showing bullets found near the Hutt River ridge, south of Spalding.

Packaging was also found in the area. Picture: SA Police

A police diver searches part of the Hutt River, north of Clare, for the gun that killed Robert Atkins. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier.

Police are also searching bushland for evidence. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier.

There is a reward of $200,000 for information leading to the conviction of the people who Mr Atkins or recovery of his remains.

The 42-person Task Force Southern involves detectives, intelligence officers and forensic scientist to investigate the murders of three men, of which two bodies have not been found.

Drug debts are believed to be a motive in at least some of the killings, which include:

ROBERT ATKINS, 31, from the southern suburbs, who was held captive and tortured for up to a week and then moved and murdered at Port Pirie. His body is still missing

TREVOR KING, 41, from the southern suburbs, whose body was found in January 2020 and initially treated as a suicide. It is now believe he was tortured with a blow torch and had his hands smashed.

JEFF MUNDY, 36, from the southern suburbs. He was last seen in CTV footage at a chemist at the end of 2020, and his body is yet to be located.

Robert Atkins, Trevor King and Jeff Mundy, all believed to have been murder victims.

Major Crime detectives, police officers and STAR Group officers search in grass and bush along Peak Rd, between Peterborough and Orroroo. Picture: Emma Brasier

Police have already undertaken an extensive search in remote scrub between Peterborough and Orroroo in February for the body of Robert Atkins in February.

Officers had hoped for a breakthrough in the search for the missing Christie Downs man after the four-day search but returned without major announcement.