17kg of cannabis seized following a vehicle stop on Hume Highway

Riverina Highway Patrol seized 17 kilograms of cannabis following a vehicle stop on Hume Highway on 28 July. Photo: NSW Police Force.

A man will face court today charged with a drug supply after police seized 17 kilograms of cannabis following a vehicle stop on the Hume Highway.

Riverina Highway Patrol Command stopped a Toyota Aurion at Coolac, 20km north of Gundagai for random testing just before 9:30 am on Thursday 28 July.

The driver, a 27-year-old man, allegedly handed police a fake international driver’s licence bearing false details, before fleeing on foot and into bushland.

A short time later, a Riverina Highway Patrol officer located the man walking along Coolac Road, Coolac, and arrested him after a short foot pursuit.

Cannabis allegedly found in the car. Photo: NSW Police Force.

Police spoke with the passenger (a 43-year-old man) and a subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a suitcase and bag in the boot allegedly containing more than 17kg of cannabis.

Further checks revealed the vehicle was a hire car from Victoria.

Both were taken to Cootamundra Police Station where the younger man was charged with one count each of supply prohibited drug, driver or rider state false name or home address, and never licensed person drive vehicle on road.

The older man was charged with supply prohibited drug.

Both men from Victoria were refused bail to appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court on Friday 29 July.