Police have conducted a three-day high-visibility operation focused on preventing and disrupting crime in the region.
Between Thursday, April 16 and Saturday, April 18, officers attached to Oxley Police District – assisted by officers attached to Operation Soteria, Western Region Operations Support Group, Youth Command, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and the Dog Unit – saturated the Tamworth and Gunnedah area under Operation Soteria to target and reduce crime.
As a result of the operation, police arrested and charged eight people with a total of 15 offences.
There were also four people issued with Field Court Attendances Notices.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command performed 392 stationary random breath tests and 141 mobile random breath tests It will be alleged that three drivers returned a positive result to an illicit drug.
In addition to this, 37 traffic and speeding infringement notices were issued.
Youth Command officers also attended three community engagements with over 300 youths in attendance.
Among the incidents of note reported by NSW Police, at 11.15pm on Saturday, April 18, police stopped a motor vehicle along Kilcoy Street, Gunnedah.
It will be alleged that the 25-year-old male driver was found in possession of methylamphetamine and MDMA.
Inquiries also established that his drivers licence had been suspended since August 2025. A 39-year-old male passenger in the vehicle was found in possession of methylamphetamine. It will be further alleged that located in the vehicle was a 44-gallon drum containing $700 worth of diesel.
Both men were arrested and taken to Gunnedah Police Station. The driver was charged with drive while licence cancelled and two counts of possess prohibited drug. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Gunnedah Local Court on Tuesday, May 5.
The passenger was charged with supply prohibited drug greater than indictable and less than commercial quantity, possess prohibited drug and goods in personal custody suspected being stolen.
He was refused bail and appeared at Bail Division Court 5 on Sunday, April 19. The man was remanded in custody and appeared at Tamworth Local Court on Monday, April 20.
