THREE men have been charged with almost 30 offences, accused of illegal hunting after a vehicle stop near Narrabri.
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In July, to combat a rise in rural crime, Oxley police setup Operation Tarzan to target illegal hunting and trespassing.
On Saturday, Narrabri police stopped a ute on the Newell Highway at Edgeroi, north of Narrabri.
When speaking to two men in the vehicle, police noticed a freshly killed feral pig on the rear tray along with two dogs fitted with hunting collars.
Officers then searched the ute and seized hunting equipment including a GPS unit, dog collars and three knives.
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Police launched an investigation after inquiries revealed that the two men, aged 26 and 28 from Narrabri, along with a third man, aged 21 from Edgeroi, had allegedly trespassed onto numerous private properties.
Police will allege the illegal hunting offences occurred in the Bellata area, as well as in public areas including the Moema National Park, Terry Hie Hie Aboriginal Area and Gamilaroi Nature Reserve.
Following investigations, all three men were issued with court attendance notices this week to answer 27 offences.
Rural Crime Prevention Team northern zone co-ordinator, Detective Sergeant Bennett Nolan, praised the strategies and team work in this incident.
"This is a fantastic example of proactive strategies being used by general duties police working in rural areas to disrupt illegal hunting offenders, whose activities can severely impact on farmers," he said.
The 28-year-old man was charged with:
- 1 x aggravated enter enclosed lands
- 2 x be accompanied by dog in nature reserve
- 1 x use prohibited implement to harm animal in nature reserve
- 3 x have control of dog with hunting collar in national park
- 1 x hunt game animal on private/public land without licence
- 1 x custody of knife in public place
The 26-year-old man was charged with:
- 5 x aggravated enter enclosed lands
- 2 x hunt game animal on private/public lands without licence
- 2 x be accompanied by dog in nature reserve
- 2 x have control of dog with hunting collar in national park and custody of a knife in public place
The 21-year-old man was charged with:
- 1 x aggravated enter enclosed lands
- 1 x use prohibited implement to harm animal in nature reserve
- 2 x have control of dog with hunting collar in national park
- 1 x hunt game animal on private/public land without licence
- 1 x be accompanied by dog in nature reserve.
All three men are due to appear at Narrabri Local Court on September 24.
MAP: The location where police stopped the vehicle
Detective Bennett said the proactive operation will continue to target illegal hunting in the Oxley area in the coming months.
"The Rural Crime Prevention Team continues to work with local police to target rural offenders, however rural crime can be reported to any police officer, anywhere," he said.
Nadine Morton
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
