Numerous arrests have been made in Dubbo at the weekend after a police operation targeting those who sell and consume illicit drugs on licensed premises.
Orana Mid Western Police conducted a police dog operation in Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine, Wellington and Dubbo.
During the operation in Dubbo on Saturday night, a 19-year-old Narromine man at the Amaroo was found to be in possession of a considerable amount of MDMA tablets.
The man tried to elude the drug dog by throwing the package containing the tablets to the floor. He failed in his attempts to hide his crime and was arrested and charged with possessing a prohibit drug.
He will face court at a date still to be determined.
A 22-year-old man at the Amaroo was identified by the drug dog as possibly having possession of a prohibited drug. He was found to be in possession of an amount MDMA tablets and cash believed to be the proceeds of a crime. He was arrested and charged with supplying a prohibit drug and dealing in the proceeds of crime.
He was bailed to appear at Dubbo Local Court on April 11.
A 66-year-old woman at the Amaroo was found to be in possession of cannabis. She was cautioned under the cannabis cautioning scheme.
At the Castlereagh Hotel a 25-year-old Dubbo man, upon seeing the drug dog enter the hotel, ran from police to the back area of the hotel. Police stopped the man and retrieved the package he was seen to discard, believed to contain cocaine.
He was arrested and charged with possessing a prohibited drug and will appear before Dubbo Local Court on a date to be affixed.
Numerous move-on directions were given to intoxicated people causing a nuisance with a 25-year-old Geurie man detected urinating on the road, near the Pastoral Hotel, in clear view of passing members of the public. This man was arrested and issued with an infringement notice.
On Friday Night , at the Coonabarabran Hotel a 42-year-old Coonabarabran man was found to be in the possession of an amount of cannabis. Upon see the drug dog approaching him he attempted to discard his stash but was unsuccessful.
He was charged with possessing a prohibited drug and will appear in Coonabarabran Court on a date to be determined.
The operation moved north to the Coonamble RSL where a 22-year-old Bathurst woman was identified by the drug dog to possibly be in the possession of a prohibited drug.
She was searched and a large amount of what police believed to be ecstasy tablets were secreted upon her body. She was also found to be in possession of a sum of cash believed to be the proceeds of a crime. She was charged with several offences including supplying a prohibiting drug and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
She was bailed to appear at Bathurst on February 26.
During the operation in Gilgandra, police stopped a car they became suspicious of, driving through the township. A 27-year-old Warren woman was searched and found to be in possession of an amount of cannabis and a substantial amount of cash that police believe to be the proceeds of crime.
This woman is expected to be charged with supplying a prohibited drug and dealing in the proceeds of crime. She will receive a court attendance notice to appear before Warren Court on a date to be affixed.
Orana Mid Western Police District Inspector Dan Skelly said unfortunately it seemed to be a mentality of acceptance, mainly within the younger generation, that the consumption of drugs was okay while at licensed venues.
“The people selling the drugs know this. They are usually known to the crowd, lerk in the shadows, and sell these drugs indiscriminately and without a care,” he said.
“When we take the drug dog in it's like turning on the lights in the kitchen of a night and seeing the cockroaches run for cover. These people know that the gigs up and try to hide – they can't.
“We will continue to plan these operations, which have the full backing of the licensees and directors of the venues, endeavouring to rid these venues of drug dealers and drug affected people."
The operation also detected a number of licensing breaches which are being followed up by licensing police.
[contf] [contfnew] 
Nyngan Observer
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
