Drugs and weapons uncovered during Geelong road policing blitz

Police have uncovered a commercial quantity of drugs, weapons and other items during a roadside intercept conducted as part of a major road policing operation in Geelong over the weekend.

Operation Lockdown, which was conducted over Friday and Saturday nights, saw police highly visible and enforcing on roads in the Geelong area.

The operation involved the Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section, State Highway Patrol, and Geelong Highway Patrol and uniform members, targeting impaired drivers and high-risk driving behaviour.

At approximately 11:30pm on Friday, State Highway Patrol intercepted a VW Tiguan allegedly bearing cloned number plates, at a random breath testing site conducted at The Esplanade, Drumcondra.

The driver, a 35-year-old Norlane man, allegedly returned a positive roadside drug test, with a search of his vehicle allegedly uncovering ten conducted energy devices, a commercial quantity of drugs including liquid amphetamine, methamphetamine, heroin, ecstasy and testosterone, as well as stolen credit cards and $11,000 cash.

The man was arrested and charged with ten counts of possessing prohibited weapon, five counts of possessing a drug of dependence (commercial quantity), handle stolen goods, possess proceeds of crime, driving whilst disqualified and exceeding the prescribed concentration of drugs.

He was remanded to appear before the County Court at a later date.

Over two nights during Operation Lockdown, police conducted 4,336 preliminary breath tests, with 24 drivers caught exceeding the alcohol limit.

Two women were allegedly caught swapping drivers when entering a random breath testing site on Saturday at approximately 11:30pm on Latrobe Terrace, Belmont.

The initial driver, a 22-year-old Bell Park female, allegedly returned a breath test result of 0.142 resulting in an immediate loss of licence for 14 months and $889 fine.

Her passenger-turned-driver allegedly returned a breath test result of 0.072, and with no driver’s licence to begin with, will be summonsed to Geelong Magistrate’s Court at a later date for driving whilst disqualified and exceeding the prescribed concentration of alcohol, with the vehicle impounded for 30 days at a cost of $1325.

Police detected a total 153 offences during Operation Lockdown, including:

• 28 speeding offences
• 24 drink driving offences from 4,336 preliminary breath tests
• 7 drug driving offences from 190 roadside drug tests
• 7 defect notices
• 5 disobey traffic signs / signals
• 5 unregistered vehicles
• 5 impoundments
• 4 disqualified / unlicenced / suspended drivers
• 2 traffic light offences

Victoria Police will continue to conduct several major road policing operations targeting impaired drivers over the coming months.

Motorists should expect to be tested – anywhere, anytime.

Media Unit

144118