A man has been charged following a rural crime investigation into the alleged fraudulent movement of livestock in the state’s north-west.
In March 2026, Rural Crime Investigators attached to Central North Police District received a report relating to rangeland goats being unlawfully mustered from a property north-west of Bourke and transported under a fraudulent National Vendor Declaration to another location in Enngonia.
Strike Force Vesta was established to investigate the incident.
About 10am on Wednesday 29 July 2026, Rural Crime Investigators and officers from Central North Police District executed a search warrant at a livestock depot north of Enngonia, where several documents were seized.
Later that day, investigators attended a property east of Enngonia where a crime scene was declared.
Following inquiries, about 8.30am on Tuesday 4 August 2026, police executed a search warrant at a livestock depot west of Coolabah, where a document was seized.
Following further inquiries, on Wednesday 12 August 2026, police issued a 39-year-old man with a Future Court Attendance Notice at Bourke Police Station for the offence of make false document to obtain financial advantage etc.
Police will allege the man was responsible for creating a false National Vendor Declaration for the movement of 177 goats and made a financial gain as a result.
The man is due to appear before Bourke Local Court on Thursday 8 October 2026.
The Rural Crime Prevention Team maintains a continued focus across the state on unauthorised transport of livestock in relation to traceability, biosecurity and stock theft prevention and detection.
