Police have charged four men after establishing a strike force to investigate drug and firearms supply in Wagga Wagga.

Strike Force Golder was established to investigate drug and firearms trafficking in the Riverina.

Police will allege that stolen rifles were supplied along with quantities of methylamphetamine (ICE).

On Monday 18 July 2016, investigators arrested and charged a 34-year-old man with supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity) and supply prohibited drug (indictable quantity).

An SKS firearm, five magazines and 300 rounds of ammunition were located during a search warrant at the man’s Glenfield Park residence.

The man was refused bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court on 14 September 2016.

Earlier today (Wednesday 20 July 2016) three men were arrested and charged as part of the investigation.

Two men, aged 21 and 23, were each charged with; supply indictable quantity of prohibited drugs, supply prohibited firearm, supply unregistered firearm (x2), and supply ammunition.

Both were refused bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court on 14 September 2016.

A 43-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited firearm, supply ammunition, and supply prohibited firearm part.

He was refused bail and is due to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 21 July 2016).

A man has had his car seized after he was detected allegedly travelling at more than 190kmh near Goulburn this morning.

Traffic and Highway Patrol officers were conducting stationary speed enforcement duties on the Hume Highway at Carrick, 10km north of Goulburn, about 1am today (Wednesday 20 July 2016), when they allegedly saw a vehicle allegedly travelling at high speed.

Police from The Hume Local Area Command will allege the vehicle was travelling at 191kmh in what is a 110kmh signposted zone. The vehicle was stopped and the male driver – and sole occupant – of the vehicle spoken to.

Police issued the 25-year-old man, from Long Jetty, with a speed infringement notice for exceed speed by more than 45kmh which carries a $2350 and six demerit points.

The man’s 2013-model Lexus sedan was confiscated for three months and his licence confiscated for six months.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, said anyone driving at those speeds on public roads poses an unacceptable risk.

“The road was wet and there were multiple heavy vehicles on the highway at the time the man was detected allegedly driving at more than 191kmh,” Assistant Commissioner Smith said.

“These are dangerous conditions to drive at speed – other drivers, be they car or truck – are put at risk when one person makes that choice.

“We are already counting additional road deaths of more than 40 people so far this year compared to last year; we do not need high-risk behaviour by any driver, anywhere, anytime,” Assistant Commissioner Smith said.

As the cross-border ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign continues this week Albury and Wodonga Police, together with Crime Stoppers, are urging residents to show their support in stamping out the spread of illicit drugs.

The Commonwealth-funded campaign is currently taking place within States and Territories across Australia.

In NSW, the campaign is being held in 21 metropolitan and regional LACs over a six-month period between March and September 2016.

It will run in each LAC for two weeks, during which local residents will be urged to help police shut down drug-manufacturing syndicates and arrest drug suppliers by reporting relevant information to Crime Stoppers.

Since the joint launch of the Albury/Wodonga campaign last Wednesday (13 July 2016), local officers have been out in the community distributing information and educating the public on how they can support the campaign.

Albury Local Area Commander, Acting Superintendent Evan Quarmby, urged the community to get behind the ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign as it continues this week.

“Our officers will continue their work this week in sharing information with members of the community about how they can support this important campaign,” A/Supt Quarmby said.

“We are focused on targeting the manufacturers and suppliers of ‘ice’ who continue to distribute dangerous drugs across our community. I therefore urge members of the public to familiarise themselves with the seven signs of a drug house.

“These include strange odours, diverted electricity, chemical containers and waste, blacked-out windows, hoses and pipes in strange places, extremely bright indoor lighting and vehicles arriving at odd hours,” A/Supt Quarmby said.

“Not only do these clan labs produce substances that cause severe harm to users, they are highly combustible, pollutant-riddled properties that pose a direct threat to the community around them.

“Never underestimate the positive contribution you can make through a simple call to Crime Stoppers. If any properties in your neighbourhood raise suspicion please come forward,” A/Supt Quarmby said.

Wodonga Acting Local Area Commander, Acting Inspector Kathryn Chamberlain, said police are committed to working with Crime Stoppers and the community in the fight against illicit drugs.

“Last year we saw a significant increase in drug-related information reports throughout Wodonga’s two-week Dob in a Dealer campaign, helping us to identify those guilty of supplying illicit drugs to our community, and bringing them to justice,” A/Insp Chamberlain said.

“It’s quick, it’s simple and it’s confidential. Please continue to support us to create a safer, drug-free border community by reporting what you know to Crime Stoppers.

“We take a zero-tolerance approach to the manufacture and supply of any drugs into our community,” A/Insp Chamberlain said.

“Illicit drug use and drug-related crime continues to have a significant impact on communities in metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria.”

Crime Stoppers NSW CEO, Peter Price, said drugs can have devastating consequences for the whole community, and putting a stop to the flow of drugs requires a whole-of-community response.

“Local residents often hold the key to information that can help reduce crime, and we are asking people who live within Albury or Wodonga LACs to play an active role and report those people that are bringing harmful drugs into the area,” Mr Price said.

“If you have already reported something to Crime Stoppers, we thank you; if you have not and know something, we ask that you let us know immediately.

“By making that one anonymous phone call or online report, you could save not only your community from drugs, but also someone’s life,” Mr Price said.

Please find below a schedule of the local area commands involved in the campaign, including their proposed start dates. This schedule is subject to change. To confirm dates and discuss proposed media activities in each command, please contact NSW Police Media Officer Brooke Eggleton via the NSW Police Media Unit on (02) 8263 6100.

‘Dob in a Dealer’ Community Engagement Calendar

14 March 2016: Redfern

21 March 2016: Orana

28 March 2016: Sydney City

11 April 2016: Castlereagh

11 April 2016: Liverpool

26 April 2016: Campbelltown

2 May 2016: Barwon

9 May 2016: Wollongong

23 May 2016: Richmond

30 May 2016: Shoalhaven

13 June2016: Tweed/Byron

20 June 2016: The Hume

4 July 2016: Coffs/Clarence

13 July 2016: Albury

18 July 2016: Mid North Coast

1 August2016: Wagga Wagga

8 August 2016: Oxley

22 August 2016: Griffith

29 August 2016: Newcastle City

12 September 2016: Canobolas

19 September 2016: Blacktown

Crime Stoppers is focused on gathering information to stop the supply and manufacture of drugs. If you or someone you know is affected by drug use or addiction, please contact support services such as the Alcohol and Drug Information Service on (02) 9361 8000.