The Leader can reveal the shocking figures after a two-day blitz by highway patrol officers saw 62 drivers randomly tested and 20 return positive indications for methylamphetamine or cannabis.

The police operation targeted several streets across Tamworth and outlying areas on Sunday and Monday. The youngest detected was a 19-year-old, while the oldest driver to give a positive indication was in their 60s.

“It is a little bit disturbing,” Western highway patrol Sergeant Troy Woods said.

“They’re involved in illegal activity, which leads them to returning positive results in their system.”

The figures highlight the extent of drug use across the Tamworth area and show police are catching more drivers who take illegal substances.

The drug driving technology was introduced in Tamworth in September last year and, after a month, figures showed one in seven were testing positive.

In January, The Leader revealed one in four drivers were showing signs of illicit substances in their oral fluid.

“It’s only a matter of time, you will be tested,” Sergeant Woods said.

“Every car is a mobile random drug testing unit, so it’s not a case of if, but when you will be detected.

“And, it’s not a case of if you’re driving under the influence of a particular drug, it’s if you have traces of the drug in your blood system, and drivers need to know that those substances can stay in the system for a period of time.”

Police are hoping the disturbing figures and stiff penalties will deter recreational users from dabbling in drugs to avoid consequences like losing their job when they lose their licence in court.

Each of the drivers undertook the “lick the stick” test which returned the reading which will now be sent for analysis to a police laboratory.

If the positive result is confirmed, each driver will be charged with driving with an illicit drug in their blood system and ordered to appear in a Tamworth court.

In the meantime, drivers who tested positive were issued a flash ban, prohibiting them from driving for 24 hours.

The maximum penalty for the offence is a $2000 fine and three months’ disqualification.

On Monday, seven people appeared in Tamworth Local Court after they were detected during previous traffic stops including four men who were caught twice.

Western head of highway patrol Acting Inspector Ben McFarlane said the blitz will continue, but drivers won’t know where or when.

“It’ll be a rolling operation and people can expect to see more police doing the testing on the roads,” he said.

“The operation is currently funded by the NSW Centre for Road Safety.”