Two men will appear in Goulburn Local Court today (Monday, 18 July) after allegedly being caught with drugs, several driver’s licences and a blank passport during a vehicle stop at Murrumbateman.
About 11:20 am yesterday (Sunday), officers attached to Yass Highway Patrol were conducting patrols as part of Operation Furious – targeting speeding and dangerous driving – when they detected a Mitsubishi SUV travelling at 70 km/h in a 50km/h zone on the Barton Highway.
Officers pulled the vehicle over and the driver, a 38-year-old man, was subjected to a roadside breath test and drug test. It will be alleged he returned a positive reading to methamphetamine; the results of which will undergo further analysis.
Soon after, the driver fled the scene on foot, before his passenger – a man aged 42 – allegedly became violent towards police as he also attempted to flee.
The passenger was arrested after a short struggle.
During a search of the SUV, police seized a substance believed to be methylamphetamine, MDMA, a blank passport, passport photos, six mobile phones, several credit cards and driver’s licences in various names, cash, electronic scales, and more than one kilo of a crystal substance in a bottle which will undergo further analysis.
The driver was located walking along Dundoos Drive, Murrumbateman, about 1:45 pm; he was arrested after a foot pursuit.
Both men were taken to Yass Police Station, where the younger man was charged with six offences:
- Take part supply prohibited drug,
- Possess identity info to commit an indictable offence (two counts),
- Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle),
- Resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, and,
- Refuse or fail to submit to oral fluid test.
He was also issued infringement notices for exceeding the speed limit, and driving while unlicensed.
The older man was charged with seven offences:
- Possess prohibited drug (two counts),
- Take part supply prohibited drug (two counts),
- Deal with property proceeds of crime,
- Possess identity info to commit indictable offence, and,
- Resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty.
Both men were refused bail to appear in court today.