A DUBBO man has been sentenced to community service after $60,000 worth of illegal drugs were found in a random traffic stop.
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Warwick Michael Pearce was behind the wheel of the Toyota Camry when he was pulled over by police on the Newell Highway about 30km out of Coonabarabran on October 12, last year.
Highway patrol officers stopped the 43-year-old for a random breath-test but became suspicious of Pearce and searched the vehicle where they discovered an illegal haul of drugs.
Five kilograms of cannabis was uncovered hidden in the boot of the car, culminating in drug supply and possession charges for Pearce.
Pearce has been on bail since his arrest but pleaded guilty to supplying cannabis that was larger than an indictable quantity, before a charge of possession was dismissed.
In a sentencing hearing in Dubbo Local Court this week, Magistrate Andrew Eckhold said the charge was serious because it was the result of a random traffic stop.
He ordered Pearce to perform 200 hours of community service, as well as 20 hours of professional development and education programs
Police said the highway seizure was the result of a training program called CATCH (Crime and Traffic Connecting on Highways) .
The program is based on one by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – an observation-based training program which has been running in NSW and Victoria since 2009 and police maintain it has had an impact on drug supply and crime.
