Nimbin Mardigrass: Police lay 80 charges; issue cannabis cautions

Police have laid more charges and issued cannabis cautions during today’s Mardigrass activities in Nimbin.

Since Operation Brewarrana began on Friday, 80 people have been reported in the town and nearby localities, mainly for drug offences.

Several operations are running during the festival, including stationary random breath-testing, drug dogs, and roadside drug-testing, as well as ongoing high-visibility policing throughout the town.

Officers from Northern Region – including general duties, OSG (Operational Support Group), Highway Patrol and detectives – have been joined by police from Sydney-based units, including the Dog Unit, the Mounted Police and the Public Order and Riot Squad (PORS), to patrol the Nimbin township and surrounds for the festival.

In the past week police have seized more than 50kg of cannabis as well as amphetamines, ecstasy and LSD.

On Friday police executed a search warrant on a Basil Road, Nimbin, in which two hydroponic cannabis-growing units were located.

Police seized 1.4kg of cannabis leaf. Further investigations are continuing.

A drug-dog operation outside the township resulted in 14 people being detected yesterday, with a further 30 detections today.

Of those, 27 of the alleged offenders were given cannabis cautions and one was issued with a field court attendance notice.

One driver was stopped and charged with a low-range PCA offence.

Officers also conducted 54 driver drug-tests with two men and a woman testing positive; 317 RBTs were also conducted with two men returning low-range PCA readings.

A 28-year-old man was charged this morning by Nimbin police with a high-range PCA offence after he crashed his 1996 Mitsubishi van on Nimbin Road at Coffee Camp about 2.30am.

The driver escaped injury but returned a positive breath test at the scene.

He was taken to Nimbin Police Station where he returned a reading of 0.175.

His licence was suspended on the spot.

Overnight two cars were stolen and there were a number of minor street offences reported, with police warning a several people for breach of alcohol-free zones within the town.

Police are also continuing to investigate the assault of a 22-year-old woman, who was treated in hospital for facial injuries sustained in an incident on Saturday afternoon, and the assault of a 17-year-old girl in Cullen Street on Friday night.

Richmond Local Area Commander, Superintendent Bruce Lyons, said the police presence in the town was appropriate for the increased crowds.

“We have put a strong emphasis on high-visibility policing during this year’s festival with police working to reduce and prevent crimes before they happen and to maintain public order,” Superintendent Lyons said.

“We have been targeting all illegal activities, from traffic offences, violence and anti-social behaviour through to the supply and possession of all illicit drugs.

“Obviously we hope people will choose not to engage in any criminal or anti-social behaviour, but those who do will be dealt with under the full extent of the law.

“We are keen to see the weekend’s celebrations run safely, peacefully and without incident.

“Feedback from the Nimbin community has been very positive to the police presence and the strategies adopted.”

“Resident and crowd safety are vital and we will be taking an extremely tough stance on any violent behaviour,” Supt Lyons said.

The police operation will continue until Monday.

      

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