In a significant breakthrough, a man has been charged following a vehicle stop in the Hunter Valley that uncovered a startling array of illicit items. Hunter Valley Police District officers, while conducting routine patrols along Main Road, Heddon Greta, halted a sedan for a thorough search yesterday at approximately 12:30 PM (local time). The stop was executed under a Firearms Prohibition Order.
During the search operation, law enforcement officials allegedly discovered a loaded firearm, a substantial sum of $18,000 in cash, 70 grams of methylamphetamine, and 34 oxycodone tablets within the vehicle.
Authorities promptly arrested a 25-year-old male from Dungog at the scene. The individual was subsequently transported to Cessnock Police Station for further investigation. He now faces a total of 13 charges, including possession of prohibited drugs (four counts), handling proceeds of crime (two counts), acquiring a pistol while subject to a firearms prohibition order, unauthorized possession of a pistol, failure to safely store a pistol, and possession of ammunition without the required license/permit/authority.
The accused appeared before Cessnock Local Court earlier today (Wednesday, May 31, 2023), where he was formally denied bail. His next hearing is scheduled to take place at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, August 9, 2023.