Disqualified driver charged with drug offences after vehicle stop at Cessnock, NSW

A man has been charged with drug and driving offences after police seized almost 100L of fertilizer and cannabis plants during a vehicle stop in Cessnock yesterday.

About 2.50pm on Saturday (23 October 2021), officers attached to Traffic & Highway Patrol Command were conducting roadside breath testing on Aberdare Street, Cessnock, when they stopped a Holden Commodore sedan.

Police will allege the driver, a 36-year-old man, who is disqualified from driving, returned a positive drug test result for methylamphetamine (ice).

A search of the man’s vehicle resulted in police locating and seizing almost 100L of different varieties of fertilizer, cannabis plants, cannabis, electrical lighting equipment and powered globes.

The man’s vehicle was also inspected by police, revealing several serious safety defects including an aftermarket steering wheel without an airbag, an unsecure vehicle battery and unenclosed air filter.

A red defect label was placed on the Commodore.

The man was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station where he was charged with driving while disqualified, possess prohibited drug, possess prohibited plant and goods in custody.

The man was granted strict conditional bail and will appear at Cessnock Local Court today (Sunday 24 November 2021).

/Public Release. View in full here.