NSW: Police begin stop-and-search of vehicles at borders

AAP General News (Australia)
02-01-2004
NSW: Police begin stop-and-search of vehicles at borders

By Samantha Baden and Selina Day

SYDNEY, Feb 1 AAP - NSW police today began stopping and searching cars and trucks on
the borders of three states, their first such anti-drugs operation since being given special
powers to do so.

In June last year, the NSW government passed legislation allowing the state's police
to stop and search vehicles in a 100km stretch along the borders of NSW, Victoria and
South Australia.

The laws are designed to stop drug trafficking via the Sturt Highway, which runs through
all three states, and which police have said has been used increasingly in recent years
as a drug trafficking route.

Police today began Operation Carty, their first on the borders since the legislation was enacted.

NSW Police assistant commissioner Terry Collins said 40 officers and four drug detection
dogs were taking part in the three-day operation on a kilometre stretch of the Sturt Highway
near Hay, in the state's south west.

Under the legislation, police can apply for a Supreme Court warrant authorising officers
to stop any vehicle in a particular search area for the purpose of using a drug detection
dog.

The new powers mean if a drug detection dog indicates the possibility of drugs in the
vehicle, police have reasonable suspicion to carry out a full search of the car or truck.

Today is the first day of an 18-month trial of the new powers.

Mr Collins said police were expecting a mixed reaction from the public to the new police powers.

"People involved in drugs obviously won't be very happy about the legislation.

"These new stop-and-search powers enhance our ability to target highway drug runners,
travelling between Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide on the Sturt Highway."

Mr Collins said police would not be in a position to reveal whether any arrests had
been made as a result of the new powers until the end of the three day operation.

Operation Carty was not related to the police bust near Dubbo last week of a $60 million
cannabis plantation, a police spokeswoman said.

AAP smb/drp/de

KEYWORD: CARTY NIGHTLEAD

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