POLICE have arrested and charged a New Norfolk man with trafficking drugs and having illegal firearms. A major police operation last Friday resulted in the 23-year-old man being arrested following a targeted search in New Norfolk. The operation resulted in the seizure of four illegal firearms, two of which were confirmed as stolen, and a significant quantity of ammunition, as well as illicit drugs and cash.
The man’s charges include trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of stolen firearms, possession of firearms and ammunition without an appropriate licence, and cultivating a controlled plant for sale.
Detective Acting Inspector Mathew Adams said police actively investigate intelligence relating to illegal firearms and drugs. “We know that there are people out there in the community who have information about illegal firearms and illicit drugs,” he said. “Please come forward and give police this information – you can stay anonymous – and help us take these things off the street permanently. “If you are involved in the distribution and sale of illicit drugs and firearms, police will target you to protect our community”.
It’s been a busy time for police in the Derwent Valley in the past week. Police have charged a 42-year-old Granton man after he was caught drink driving well over the limit on Sunday May 24. The man was stopped by police on Pioneer Avenue, New Norfolk about 2:45pm. He was breath tested and returned a reading of 0.17, more than three times the legal limit. “This incident occurred on the final day of National Road Safety Week, after we have been pleading with Tasmanians to take road safely seriously,” Inspector Philippa Burk said.
“Drink driving puts people’s lives at risk and it won’t be tolerated,” she said. “We’d like to thank the majority of Tasmanians who have been doing their part in making our roads safer – it’s clear we need to change some motorists’ attitudes and behaviours, and we can do that best with the community’s support.
“Police are out on the roads every single day enforcing the road rules, but people can help us by reporting dangerous driving immediately to police on 131 444. “If it’s an emergency or a life-threatening situation, ring Triple Zero (000).” “If you can’t report it at the time but you have footage, you can submit it to our evidence portal at http://www.police. tas.gov.au/report/” The Granton man has been charged and his licence suspended for two years.
Meanwhile police have arrested a 31-year-old man at Bothwell on Sunday after it was alleged he stole from businesses across the state. He was arrested for ‘Making Off Without Payment’, and police will allege the man stole fuel from a business in Bothwell. The man was driving a Silver Holden Captiva with interstate registration when he was intercepted by Bothwell Police.
Police allege that the man has been responsible for stealing from other businesses across the state, including Port Arthur, Queenstown and Launceston since Sunday May 22. “If anyone has any further information about this man, we would be interested in speaking with them as part of our ongoing investigations,” Senior Sergeant John Parker of Oatlands Police said.