Mildura police blitz: Nine arrested in 24-hour drug and drink driving crackdown

Nine people have been arrested in a tri-state policing operation aimed at stopping criminal activity across state borders, with Mildura at the centre.

Police made nine arrests in 24 hours in a blitz on illegal activity near the Victorian, New South Wales and South Australian borders. File picture.

Nine people have been arrested in a first of its kind tri-state policing operation aimed at blitzing criminal activity across our state borders.

Operation Tribus, co-ordinated by Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia police, targeted vehicles travelling near and across state lines in the Mildura region.

Over a 24-hour period late last month police seized drugs and cash and took drink and drug drivers off the road.

Roving police patrols on the Mallee Hwy, Western Hwy and country back roads in Victoria targeted traffic coming into the state from both South Australia and NSW.

Among those who will face court include a 26-year-old woman who was nabbed speeding along the Sturt Hwy at 190 km/h in a 100 km/h zone with a toddler on board.

After ignoring police orders for her to stop, the woman was intercepted at South Merbein and charged with a raft of driving offences including conduct endangering life.

Drug sniffer dogs also led police to arrest a Mildura man and woman, both in their 30s, who were allegedly carrying a kilo of cannabis in their car with a street value of $25,000.

Police also seized $2000 suspected to be proceeds of crime from the duo.

Another driver in a suspected stolen car sparked a three-hour pursuit, monitored from the air, between Victoria and NSW.

After the driver was nabbed in Mildura – following multiple attempts to stop him with the use of stop-sticks laid on the road – the 24-year-old was charged with a range of offences including aggravated burglary, theft of firearms and theft of a motor vehicle.

The man was remanded to face Mildura Magistrates’ Court at a later date.

Seven drink drivers and six drug drivers were detected during thousands of preliminary breath tests and more than 100 preliminary oral fluid tests.

Superintendent John O’Connor said it was gratifying to see such a large-scale operation between three police forces come to fruition.

“The unique nature of border communities means police must work together to protect the safety of the people who live here,” he said.

“Operation Tribus may have been the first operation of its kind, but it certainly will not be the last.”

Several specialist police units were involved in the blitz including the air wing, dog squad, Western Region crime squad and heavy vehicle unit.