NSW police’s shocking $991,000 find after arresting motorist

Police made a near million dollar discovery after stopping two men along a major highway.

What started out as a usual roadside stop by police turned into an arrest after officers allegedly discovered the near million-dollar cargo.

Officers from Dubbo’s Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stopped two Queensland men on the Newell Highway in Coonabarabran, in NSW, on Wednesday.

One of the men tried to flee the scene and into the bush after the pair were stopped by officers, but was quickly apprehended.

Two men were arrested after cops discovered what they had been transporting. Picture: NSW Highway Patrol

The two men were travelling in a Budget rental truck.

After searching the back of the truck, police realised why the man tried to run.

Allegedly in the back of the truck were 901 cannabis plants, worth an estimated street value of $991,000.

Police arrested the two 54-year-old men and charged them with possessing a commercial quantity of prohibited plants.

The pair were also given penalty notices for not wearing seatbelts in the truck and were refused bail to appear at Coonabarabran Local Court.

According to a spokesman for NSW Police’s Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, it’s been a “busy few days” for the highway patrol.

Following the men's arrest, rows and rows of cannabis were seized by NSW Police. Picture: NSW Police

On top of the $991k cannabis find, officers have also seized 66,110 illegal cigarettes, 8kg of illegal tobacco and $30,620 in cash, found in a Renault Van.

Another man from Queensland, 40, was charged in relation to that bust and will appear at Gilgandra Local Court in August this year.

“$991,000 worth of cannabis plants, $176,764 in illegal tobacco and $30,620 proceeds of crime in separate vehicle stops. It’s been a busy few days for Dubbo HWP officers,” a spokesman said.

Originally published as NSW police’s shocking $991,000 find after arresting motorist