Police made an unexpected discovery after traffic stop

A MINOR defect led police to pull the car over north of Byron Bay, before they uncovered the stash of money.

Two men were charged after their car was pulled over by highway patrol for faulty brake light. Police found hidden cash and the driver returned a positive drug test for Methamphetamine. Picture: Traffic and Highway Patrol Comma

UPDATE 10.40am: A POLICE dog put his amazing detective skills to good use during a traffic stop near Brunswick Heads on Saturday night.

After stopping a black Ford Ranger utility for a defective brake light in the northbound lanes of the Pacific Hwy, police uncovered  $45,000 cash secreted within a pillow on the rear seat.

Two men were charged after their car was pulled over by highway patrol for faulty brake light. Police found hidden cash and the driver returned a positive drug test for Methamphetamine. Picture: Traffic and Highway Patrol Comma

Both males were arrested and conveyed to Byron Bay police station. The driver, a 46 year old male from Kingsgrove, returned a positive drug test for Methamphetamine.

The police dog was involved in the operation and after the vehicle search was finished the police dog started proceeding up a 20m embankment next to where the vehicle was parked.

At the top of this embankment, police located 28 fully grown cannabis plants with some more than 1.82m high. These were also seized by police, with investigations continuing.

Two men were charged after their car was pulled over by highway patrol for faulty brake light. Police found hidden cash and the driver returned a positive drug test for Methamphetamine. Picture: Traffic and Highway Patrol Comma

Original story: A MAN will face court after police seized almost $50,000 in a traffic stop near Byron Bay.

Highway Patrol officers stopped a black Ford Ranger due to a faulty brake light while it was being north on the Pacific Highway at Brunswick Heads about 11.45pm on Saturday.

Police will allege they found more than $46,000 in cash when they searched the vehicle.

The driver, a 44-year-old man, also returned a positive roadside drug test for methylamphetamine.

He was arrested and taken to Byron Bay Police Station where he was charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime and having goods in custody suspected of being stolen.

He's expected to face Byron Bay Local Court on March 21.

Further charges will depend on the outcome of test results.

The traffic stop was part of the state-wide Operation Safe Return.

Double demerits are in place over the entire long weekend for all speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle-helmet offences.

Across NSW, there have been a total of 2330 speed infringements, 104 drink-driving charges and three lives lost since the long weekend began.