A multi-agency operation targeting road safety compliance has concluded in the Southern Tablelands region.
Operation Fume was conducted at the Mundoonan Rest Area northbound lane of the Hume Highway, Jerrawa, about 20 kilometres north of Yass, between 11am yesterday (Wednesday 12 August 2026) to 3am today (Thursday 13 August 2026).
The operation was led by NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command with assistance from The Hume Police District, NSW Dog Unit, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and Transport for NSW.
The operation was conducted in response to ongoing road safety concerns following recent serious and fatal crashes involving cars and heavy vehicles along the Hume Highway transport corridor.
Police established a high-visibility stationary roadside breath and drug test site, with all northbound traffic on the Hume Highway, Jerrawa, diverted through the rest area.
Police also targeted vehicle compliance and other criminal activity.
Throughout the operation, there were 81 roadside drug tests conducted with six positive tests detected.
Police carried out 369 breath tests with one drink driving offence detected.
Sixteen infringement notices and one defect notice were issued, with 49 heavy vehicle compliance checks conducted.
Three vehicles were searched and two unauthorised drivers were detected.
At 11pm, a 24-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were stopped in a Mercedes Sprinter Van at the site, where police searched the vehicle. Officers located and seized 869,000 illegal cigarettes, with an estimated street value of $1.3 million dollars. They were taken to Yass Police Station and charged with possess tobacco more than commercial quantity. They will appear at Yass Local Court on Thursday 1 October 2026.
Shortly before 11pm, police stopped a Mitsubishi Canter at the site where they searched the vehicle and located 3200 vapes, worth an estimated $160,000. A 32-year-old man was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for possessing a commercial quantity of vaping goods. He will appear at Yass Local Court on Thursday 1 October 2026.
