Police have found almost $280 000 cash following a vehicle stop near Wagga Wagga.

About 9am today (Wednesday 18 May 2016), police attached to Cootamundra Highway Patrol were alerted to a vehicle being driven in a suspicious manner on the Hume Highway, Mundarlo, about 40km east of Wagga Wagga.

A short time later, police stopped the white Toyota Hiace just south of Tarcutta and spoke to the male driver.

Officers subsequently searched the vehicle and allegedly located almost $280 000 in cash.

The driver, aged 26, was arrested and taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station where he was subjected to a drug test, which allegedly returned a positive indication for methyl amphetamine.

The man, from Queensland, was charged with recklessly deal with proceeds of crime.

He was refused bail and will appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 19 May 2016).

The incident has prompted Commander of Traffic and Highway Patrol, Assistant Commissioner John Hartley to warn motorists of the consequences of using the road to undertake unlawful activities.

“If you think you are going to get away with illegal activity on our roads, you can think again, he said.

“The CATCH program targets vehicles suspected of transporting drugs and other illegal contraband.

“Police are out in force, and if you are doing the wrong thing, we will catch up with you.”

Inquiries continue.

Police have officially suspended the search for a man thought to be missing, after his yacht was found adrift and unattended on the state’s north on Tuesday.

At 8am tomorrow (Thursday 19 May 2016), officers attached to Marine Area Command with assistance from Port Stephens Water Police will conduct a recovery search.

Due to conditions of the water, it is unlikely the 48-year-old man was able to survive.

Detectives are continuing with inquiries regarding the boat, named ‘FireFly’, possibly being around Lemon Tree Passage on the morning of Tuesday 17 May 2016.

Officers from Marine Area Command are continuing with investigations.

Police are urging anyone who might have information to contact police from Marine Area Command on 02 93207499.

Police investigating a claim of attempted abduction at Albury yesterday have confirmed that the incident did not occur.

Investigators from Albury Local Area Command have spent many hours trying to determine the veracity of the report.

Officers were initially told between 4.30pm and 4.45pm on Tuesday 17 May 2016, a 17-year-old girl was waiting for a friend in David Street near the intersection of Dean Street when she was grabbed by the male occupant of a green utility.

Investigators have confirmed that the report was false.

They are no longer searching for a green utility or its male driver.

Police have thanked the community and media for their assistance with this matter.

Inquiries into possible offences surrounding the false report continue.

A man has been charged after he allegedly broke into a woman’s home and committed a lewd act.

About 5am on Tuesday 3 May 2016, a 52-year-old woman was in her home on Woodstock Street, Mayfield, when a male person allegedly entered her home.

The man entered the victim’s bedroom, at which time she woke up and saw him.

The victim got up and followed the man to a veranda where he allegedly performed lewd acts towards her, before leaving the premises.

Following ongoing inquiries by officers from Newcastle Local Area Command, a 50-year-old man was arrested at a home in Bull Street, Mayfield.

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence, commit act of indecency and stalk/intimidate intend to cause physical harm.

The man was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 18 May 2016).

Police have arrested seven people, seized drugs and more than $100,000 cash, as part of an ongoing investigation targeting a large-scale drug supply syndicate operating in the NSW Central Hunter region.

Strike Force Yellowbox was established in June 2015 to investigate the supply of methylamphetamine by a drug syndicate operating in the Maitland area.

About 7am yesterday (Tuesday 17 May 2016), Strike Force Yellowbox detectives, with assistance from neighbouring commands, the Dog Unit, Northern Region Operational Support Group and Northern Region Rescue executed a total of 18 search warrants.

The warrants were executed at residential and industrial premises as well as a hotel and storage shed within the Central Hunter Local Area Command (East Maitland, Chisholm, Thornton and Rutherford), and the Port Stephens Local Area Command (Dungog, Raymond Terrace, Heatherbrae).

Three women – aged 23, 49 and 42 – and two men – aged 23 and 44 – were arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station.

Three of the warrants were executed in Queensland with assistance from the Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch.

Two males – aged 29 and 45 – were arrested on the Gold Coast and police are awaiting their extradition today (Wednesday 18 May 2016).

The 29-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drug of a large commercial quantity and knowingly direct activities of a criminal group.

The 45-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drug of a large commercial quantity, supply prohibited drugs (x3) and knowingly direct activities of a criminal group.

The 23-year-old woman was charged with supply prohibited drugs (x6).
The 42-year-old woman was charged with supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis (x5).

The 44-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drug (x3), supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, supply prohibited drug of commercial quantity and participate criminal group.

They have all been refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Wednesday 18 May 2016).

The 49-year-old woman was charged with supply prohibited drug (x3). She was released on bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Wednesday 18 May 2016).

The 23-year-old man was issued a Future Court Attendance Notice for possess prohibited drug (x2), possession or use a prohibited weapon, deal with property suspected proceeds of crime and goods in custody.

Central Hunter Local Area Command Acting Crime Manager, Detective Acting Inspector Mitchell Dubojski said the arrests are a culmination of a lengthy investigation by detectives.

“Investigators have been involved in numerous inquiries with the objective of shutting down a significant drug supply operation,” Detective Acting Inspector Dubojski said.

“All of the officers involved should be extremely proud of their work.”

“I urge anyone with information about the manufacture or supply of illegal drugs to contact police immediately. Callers should contact their local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

A woman has been charged over the wounding of a man in a domestic incident in the Hunter Valley.
In the early hours of today (Tuesday 17 May 2016), a 38-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman became involved in an altercation in the bedroom of their home on Greta Street, Aberdare.

At the time of the altercation, it is alleged the woman was armed with a knife and a pair of garden shears. It is alleged the woman slashed at the man on several occasions, causing lacerations to his forearm and left leg.

Police and Ambulance Paramedics attended and the man was taken to Cessnock District Hospital for treatment.

The woman was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station where she was charged with reckless wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV).

She was refused bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 18 May 2016).

A man has been charged after allegedly filming a girl on a Newcastle bound train last week.

On Thursday (12 May 2016), officers from the Police Transport Command received a report that a man was seen allegedly filming up a 14-year-old girl’s clothing at Woy Woy Railway Station.

An investigation into the incident commenced.

About 6.45am this morning (Tuesday 17 May 2016), officers from Brisbane Water Police Transport Command arrested a 25-year-old man at Woy Woy Railway Station.

He was taken to Gosford Police Station where he was charged with attempted aggravated filming of a person’s private parts.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Gosford Local Court on 7 June 2016.

Police are urging anyone with information about the incident or similar incidents to come forward.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was found seriously injured at Lake Macquarie yesterday.

About 9.25am (Sunday 15 May 2016), a 26-year-old man and a male friend were walking along Green Street, Belmont South.

At the intersection of Marriott Street, the man was found lying on the roadway and bleeding profusely from the back of his head. Emergency services were contacted.

NSW Ambulance Paramedics attended and treated the man. The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he remains.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended are appealing for public assistance in piecing together the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was found seriously injured at Lake Macquarie yesterday.

About 9.25am (Sunday 15 May 2016), a 26-year-old man and a male friend were walking along Green Street, Belmont South.

At the intersection of Marriott Street, the man was found lying on the roadway and bleeding profusely from the back of his head. Emergency services were contacted.

NSW Ambulance Paramedics attended and treated the man. The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended are appealing for public assistance in piecing together the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or noticed suspicious activity on Green Street, Belmont South between 9am and 10am on Sunday 15 May 2016 should contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

All information will be treated in strict confidence.

Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

A member of the Nomads Outlaw Motorcycle Gang will face court next week after police allegedly located a gun and ammunition during a vehicle search.

About 3.35am today (Saturday 14 May 2016), police stopped a black utility on Darby Street, Newcastle, in order to speak to the driver about the vehicle’s registration.

While speaking to one of the occupants, police allege the man dropped a small bag containing an amount of crystallised substance.

Police subsequently conducted a search of the vehicle and allegedly located a loaded pistol.

Both male occupants of the car were arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station.

The driver of the vehicle, aged 24, was issued with a traffic infringement notice for drive unregistered vehicle.

The passenger, a 23-year-old member of the Nomads Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, was charged with possess unauthorised pistol, possess unregistered pistol, possess ammunition without permit and possess prohibited drug.

He was refused bail and will appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 14 May 2016).