Strike Force Hyperion comprises detectives from the Drug Squad’s Cannabis Team, with assistance from the NSW Police Air Wing, Police Dog Unit, Radio Electronics Unit and officers from Richmond Local Area Command.

During the past week, Strike Force Hyperion officers targeted more than 60 cannabis crop sites throughout Richmond Local Area Command, including Kippenduff, Rappville, Clearfield, Busby Flat, Mummulgum, Bulldog, Drake, Nimbin, Blue Knob, Kyogle and Tabulam.

A total of 3734 plants were located and seized by police during the operation.

The total estimated potential street value of the plants seized during the past five days is $7.5 million. All plants seized by police have been now been destroyed.

The Cannabis Eradication Program has been running since the mid 1980s, with the NSW Police Force preventing almost $240 million worth of cannabis reaching NSW streets.

As in previous years, the 2011-2012 operation will see police conduct a number of similar raids over the next few months in an ongoing effort to target cannabis cultivation.

Acting Commander of the State Crime Command’s Drug Squad, Detective Acting Superintendent Steve Patton, said the Cannabis Eradication Program aims to disrupt the cannabis supply chain in NSW by targeting the source.

“Illegal cannabis growers choose their growing locations based on the mistaken belief that police won’t find them,” Det Acting Supt Patton said.

“However, as we prove with this program every year, we have the resources to find these crops and put a dent in the cannabis market.”

About 9am on Friday 21 October 2011, police were contacted in relation to concerns for the welfare of a woman missing from Goonellabah.

The 56-year-old woman was last seen by her husband early on Thursday 20 October 2011 and her car was located near a bushwalking track at Mt Nardi the following day.

Police from Richmond Local Area Command began an extensive search of the Mt Nardi area with the assistance of the State Emergency Service and the Volunteer Rescue Association.

About 8.40pm yesterday (Saturday 22 October 2011) the woman was located as she walked out of bushland and was taken to Lismore Base Hospital as a precaution.

She had suffered only minor cuts and bruises.

No further police action is required.

About 9am (Friday 21 October 2011), police were contacted in relation to concerns for the welfare of a woman missing from Goonellabah.

Police from Richmond Local Area Command attended and conducted inquiries.

The 56-year-old woman was last seen by her husband early yesterday (Thursday 20 October 2011) and she was reported missing after attempts to contact her were unsuccessful.

Her car was located near a bushwalking track at Mt Nardi this morning.

The search continued this afternoon at Mt Nardi with the assistance of the State Emergency Service and the Volunteer Rescue Association.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the woman is urged to contact Lismore Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police and volunteers had been searching bushland for the 23-year-old man since last Wednesday (5 October 2011).

He was found in Murwillumbah by a family friend yesterday (Saturday 8 October).

Police thank the local community, search volunteers and the media for their assistance.

Coming from as far afield as Grafton, Bonalbo, Lismore, Ballina, Lennox Head and Byron Bay, the group represent a diverse range of interests including music, film, visual arts, fashion, creative writing, dance, street art, installation and videography.

Each of them will receive six months of creative direction and support from a specially selected mentor, and up to $500 towards the achievement of a creative project, to be undertaken as part of their involvement in the scheme.

At the end of November the young creatives will come back together to present their work and share what they have learned under their mentor’s guidance.

Arts Northern Rivers’ Acting CEO, Julie Clark, says she was thrilled with the applications that were received for the Young Creatives Mentoring Program, and is more than excited about the 12 mentor mentee matches that have been made.

“Knowing that the Northern Rivers region has an abundance of creative residents, we felt extremely confident that we would have some incredible mentors step forward, and we certainly haven’t been disappointed,” she said.

“Amongst those that we have successfully matched are some well-known faces from the Northern Rivers arts scene, including renowned sculptor John Dahlsen, award-winning author Martin Chatterton, and musicians Melia and Nerida Naughton from Scarlett Affection.

“There were also some fabulous applications from local young people, making for a great mix of creative matches.

“I am really looking forward to watching the scheme unfold over the next six months, and seeing how far the mentoring project can help these young creatives progress their careers and ideas.”

The participants in the Northern Rivers ArtStart 2011 Young Creative Mentoring Project are: 

• Alex King from Grafton, mentored by Carli Leimbach (filmmaking)
• Clare Douglas from Nashua, mentored by Martin Chatterton (creative writing)
• Danika Smith from Alstonville, mentored by Karen Hanna (music, songwriting and performance)
• Eliza McLead from Lennox Head, mentored by Melia and Nerida Naughton from Scarlett Affection (music, stagecraft and performance)
• Jack Tinning from Lismore, mentored by Randolf Reiman (electronic music and DJ mixing)
• Jacob Fitzroy from Alstonville, mentored by Karena Wynn-Moylan (video and installation)
• Jaz Who from Nimbin, mentored by Wendy Powitt (fashion design)
• Marcus Upton from Lismore, mentored by Emma Harrison (street art)
• Mel Robin from Lismore, mentored by John Dahlsen (visual arts/sculpture)
• Lily Noakes from Byron Bay, mentored by Anne Leon and Potts (textiles/fashion)
• Ria Tierney from Bonalbo, mentored by Bernadette Curtin and Fran Flynn (visual arts/photography)
• Ruby Teather from Byron Bay, mentored by Jade Dewi Tyus Tungghal (dance/choreography)

About midnight on Saturday 7 May, a house on Stoney Chute Road, Nimbin, was destroyed by fire. The 36-year-old female resident awoke to glass breaking and discovered the house alight. She was able to escape with her two young children. None of the family was injured.

Rural Fire Service volunteers attended and extinguished the fire.

Police, NSW Ambulance and electrical supply personnel attended the site which was declared unsafe due to damage and has since been demolished.

Police are urging anyone with information about this incident or noticed anything suspicious about midnight to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Around 100 General Duties, OSG, TAG, Licensing and Highway Patrol Officers from the Northern Region will be providing High Visibility Policing in and around the Nimbin township during the Mardi Grass Festival. The aim of police is to maintain a safe environment for the public without tolerating any illegal drug activity or anti-social behaviour.

Police are expecting large crowds to converge on the small village over the weekend, given numbers in previous years.

Police are reminding people attending the festival that the possession and sale of illicit drugs will not be tolerated and those detected will be dealt with under the law.

Detective A/Inspector Kehoe said: “Nimbin attracts a large volume of backpackers and tourists year round, looking to experience the alternative lifestyle.

“Unfortunately there is a group of people who target these tourists and are actively engaged in the supply of prohibited drugs, including cannabis, cannabis cookies, magic mushrooms, LSD, methylamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine and heroin.

“The selling and buying of illicit drugs is illegal and will not be tolerated and police will continue to target such behaviour over the Mardi Grass weekend and in the future.

“Police will be out in numbers this weekend and remind anyone attending the Mardi Grass Festival that police will take appropriate action against anyone involved in selling or using prohibited drugs.”

At 11.30am today, police from Richmond Local Area Command arrested the five in the main street of Nimbin and seized drugs, including cannabis cookies and leaf.

The arrests are the culmination of Operation Hurry, which was established last December to investigate people who might be involved in the ongoing supply of illicit substances to increasing numbers of tourists and backpackers visiting Nimbin.

Those arrested have been taken to Lismore Police Station and questioned by investigators.

Those arrested today are a:
· 45-year-old Nimbin woman
· 44-year-old Nimbin man
· 44-year-old Nimbin woman
· 43-year-old Nimbin man
· 47-year-old Larnook man

They have been charged with various offences, including supply and possess prohibited drugs, and granted conditional bail to appear in Lismore Local Court on 2 May 2011.

Further arrests are expected.

Richmond LAC Crime Manager, Detective Acting Inspector Matt Kehoe, said a large range of prohibited drugs have been seized during the course of Operation Hurry.

“Among the drugs allegedly seized were psilocybim (magic) mushrooms, cannabis, cannabis cookies, LSD, methylamphetmine and MDMA,” Det A/Insp Kehoe said.

“Nimbin attracts a large volume of backpackers and tourists year-round looking to experience the alternative lifestyle and who may come into contact with the drug trade in the township.

“The community can be assured that police will continue to run similar operations targeting the drug trade in Nimbin indefinitely.”

Det A/Insp Kehoe said today’s arrests are a timely reminder ahead of this weekend’s Mardi Grass rally where a crowd of up to 5000 people is expected.

“Police will be out in numbers this weekend and I remind anyone attending Mardi Grass that we will be in attendance and we will take appropriate action against anyone involved in selling or using prohibited drugs,” he said.

Anyone with information about drug supply is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The 62-year-old German National and her brother were hiking on the Mount Matheson loop track in the Night Cap National Park, 10km north-east of Nimbin, about 3pm yesterday (Tuesday 22 March), when they became separated.

The woman’s brother searched for her until about 7.30pm without success before returning to the Mount Nardi car park and raising the alarm.

A search operation was launched at 8.30am today, involving police from Richmond Local Area Command and the Rescue Unit, NSW Ambulance Paramedics, State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers and a rescue helicopter.

The woman was located by a ground search team about 11.30am today in the Mount Nardi area.

She is believed to be slightly dehydrated but otherwise safe and well.

The rescue team is now in the process of walking the woman out of the bush.

The 62-year-old German woman and her brother were walking along the Mount Matheson loop track in the Night Cap National Park, 10km north-east of Nimbin, about 3pm yesterday (Tuesday 22 March), when they became separated.

The woman’s brother searched unsuccessfully for her until about 7.30pm before returning to the Mount Nardi car park and raising the alarm.

Police from Richmond Local Area Command and the Rescue Unit determined it was unsafe to conduct a ground and air search overnight due to the difficult terrain and fog in the area.

While it was foggy, weather conditions were dry and mild overnight.

A search operation involving police, State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers and a rescue helicopter is now under way.

The missing woman is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 160cm tall with medium build, shoulder-length black hair, blue eyes and fair complexion.

She was last seen wearing a beige shirt, red pants, brown sandals and white hat and was carrying a blue bag.

Anyone who sees the missing woman or has information about her current whereabouts is urged to contact police from Richmond LAC via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.