State Crime Command and specialist resources saturate Coffs Harbour in three-day operation targeting regional crime
A massive police operation in Coffs Harbour aimed at curbing crime in the region has resulted in several arrests, charges and guns and illegal tobacco seized.
NSW
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A massive police operation in Coffs Harbour aimed at curbing crime in the region has resulted in several arrests, charges and guns and illegal tobacco seized.
The three-day “multifaceted” sting, executed by more than 100 officers from the State Crime Command, Robbery & Serious Crime Squad and the Coffs-Clarence Police District, ended on Wednesday.
Specialised resource teams including Pol Air, dog units and the NSW Crime Commission were also utilised.
Police arrested 15 people, laid 77 charges, enforced 19 firearm prohibition checks and seized nine firearms during the operation.
Officers conducted 264 Random Breath Tests (RBTs) and 47 Random Drug Tests – eight of which returned a positive result, police say.
Police also conducted four storage inspections at various tobacconists and seized vapes and illegal tobacco to the value of $600,000.
Out of the 15 arrests made in the sting, police say four were of a serious nature.
About 11am on Tuesday, Robbery & Serious Crime Squad officers arrested a 43-year-old man and 25-year-old woman in Port Macquarie.
They were taken to Port Macquarie Police Station where the man was charged with nine offences relating to alleged break and enters and robberies. He was refused bail and appeared in Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday.
The woman was charged with aggravated break and enter dwelling in company with intention to steal and driving a motor vehicle whilst disqualified.
She was granted conditional bail to appear in Port Macquarie Local Court on Wednesday, November 13.
Police will allege in court the man was involved in an armed robbery at a Kew licenced premises in January, stealing a motor vehicle from a business in Uranga in August, two break and enters in East Ballina and Ballina in August and two more conspiracies to break and enter.
About 8am on Tuesday, the Sex Crimes Squad Child Exploitation Internet Unit and the Public Order & Riot Squad executed a search warrant at an address in Coffs Harbour where they arrested a 39-year-old man.
During the search, police located a number of electronic devices containing child abuse material, stolen number plates and prohibited drugs.
He was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where he was charged with two counts of use carriage service to access child abuse material, use carriage service to solicit child abuse material, deal with identity information to commit an indictable offence, and possess prohibited drug.
He was refused bail and appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday.
About 7am on Monday, the Drug & Firearms Squad and the Public Order & Riot Squad executed a search warrant in Boambee East where they arrested a 30-year-old man.
During the search police located and seized prohibited drugs, items used in a hydraulic block press and electronic devices.
He was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where he was charged with two counts of supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug (indictable offence), four counts of possessing prohibited drug, and failure to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.
He was granted conditional bail to appear in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday.
About 10.15am on Monday, Raptor Squad officers and personnel from the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command established a vehicle check point on the Pacific Hwy at Halfway Creek in response to a planned Mongols OMCG run.
In total, 36 vehicles were stopped and 42 alleged members were processed, photographed and subjected to roadside drug and alcohol testing.
Three riders will be issued court notices for possessing a prohibited weapon, displaying a Nazi symbol in public and possessing a prescribed restricted substance.
Originally published as State Crime Command and specialist resources saturate Coffs Harbour in three-day operation targeting regional crime
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