A 38-year-old Budgewoi man was refused bail after charges were laid for firearm, drug and driving offences.
He was one of numerous drivers nabbed by Police in Operation Fume conducted by Central Coast and Newcastle/Hunter Highway Patrol over the weekend of September 16 and 17.
Operation Fume was a high-visibility policing operation focussing on alcohol and drug driving with Highway Patrol crews manning two stationary random breath testing sites located on the Pacific Hwy northbound at Crangan Bay and southbound at Catherine Hill Bay.
With the assistance of Central Coast District Rural Fire Service and officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District, Police conducted a total 595 breath tests and 575 drug tests resulting in four drivers being charged for drink driving/PCA detections.
Thirteen drivers returned positive drug test results with 24-hour prohibition notices issued preventing them from driving further.
Sixty-two traffic penalty notices were issued ranging from seat belt offences to mobile phone use, vehicle compliance, heavy vehicle offences and general traffic offences.
A further three traffic charges and two criminal charges were also completed including the Budgewoi man who was stopped with a subsequent vehicle search revealing a gel blaster firearm (glock) and a quantity of prohibited drugs.
The man was placed under arrest and underwent blood and urine testing before being charged with the relevant firearm, drug, and driving offences and bail being refused.
Source:
Traffic and Highway Patrol Command