Police have arrested nine people and seized approximately $25,000 worth of cannabis in a first-of its-kind joint police operation targeting criminal activity across interstate borders between Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.
Commencing Friday 30 September, the 24-hour operation covering interstate borders in the Mildura Region was a joint initiative between Victoria Police, South Australia Police and NSW Police.
It involved support from several specialist police units including the Victoria Police Air Wing, Dog Squad, Western Region Crime Squad, and Heavy Vehicle Unit; and the South Australia Police and NSW Police Dog Squads. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator also supported the operation.
Coined Operation Tribus, the high-visibility initiative primarily focused on tracking criminal activity between Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales.
As part of the operation, police also focused on dangerous driving behaviour with the aim of reducing serious road trauma in the region.
The operation involved numerous roving police patrols on the Mallee Highway, Western Highway and country backroads in Victoria, targeting traffic coming into Victoria from both South Australia and NSW.
Police were also positioned at a static site on the Sturt Highway at South Merbein, targeting all traffic travelling east from South Australia into Victoria.
Police arrested and charged nine people for a range of offences during the operation.
On one occasion, police observed a 24-year-old Mildura man travelling in an alleged stolen vehicle in Mildura prompting a near three-hour pursuit on the ground and in the air between Victoria and NSW.
He was arrested in Mildura following multiple stop-stick attempts and charged with multiple offences including aggravated burglary, theft of firearms, burglary, and theft of motor vehicle in relation to a series of incidents in the Mildura area.
He has been remanded to face Mildura Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
A female co-offender, who was also travelling in the vehicle, was charged in relation to the pursuit.
She was bailed to face the same court at a later date.
On another occasion, police detected a 26-year-old Mildura woman driving 190km/h in a 100km/h zone on the Sturt Highway at Lake Cullulleraine with a toddler on board.
After failing to stop on direction from police, she was eventually intercepted at the South Merbein static site and charged with multiple serious driving offences including conduct endangering life.
She will face Mildura Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
Police also arrested a 38-year-old Mildura man and a 37-year-old Mildura woman after drug dogs detected a kilogram of cannabis with an estimated street value of $25,000 as well as $2,000 cash in their vehicle at the South Merbein static site.
They were charged with deal property suspected proceeds of crime, handle stolen goods, and possess cannabis to face Mildura Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
During the operation, police detected seven alcohol affected drivers and six drug affected drivers, after conducting thousands of Preliminary Breath Tests (PBT) and more than 100 Preliminary Oral Fluid Tests (POFT).
They also impounded one vehicle, issued 42 vehicle defect notices, and handed out 155 penalty notices for various offences including unregistered vehicle, drive without P-plates, unlicenced driving, and drink driving.
Quotes attributable to Victoria Police Superintendent John O’Connor – Western Region Division Six:
“It’s incredibly gratifying to see such a large-scale operation, involving collaboration from not one but three police forces, come to fruition and deliver positive outcomes for border communities in Victoria, South Australia and NSW.
“The unique nature of border communities means police must work together to protect the safety of the people who live here. What happens on one side of state borderlines can have a direct impact just metres away on the other side.
“Operation Tribus may have been the first operation of its kind, but it certainly will not be the last. Along with our interstate colleagues, we remain steadfast in our commitment to eliminating criminal activity across interstate borders.”
Quotes attributable from South Australia Police Murray Mallee Local Service Area Superintendent Scott Denny:
“Operation Tribus was an opportunity for South Australia Police and our counterparts to show the community our commitment to reducing criminal activity and have a strong presence on the roads during the recent long weekend.
“This high visibility operation saw police officers and police drug dogs deployed to a number of areas along with South Australia border with positive results.”
