Murray Police have released footage of the drugs seized. Photo: Murray River Police.
Murray River Police have charged two men after officers seized more than one million dollars’ worth of cocaine, cash and items alleged to be the proceeds of crime in Howlong, a small town 20 minutes from Albury.
The arrests come after a long-running investigation which began in April 2025. Officers attached to the Murray River Police District Serious Crime Team commenced Strike Force Whitecourt targeting the supply of large quantities of cocaine, ketamine and MDMA in the region.
At about 6 am on Wednesday (30 July), the team, with assistance from Rural Crime Prevention and Traffic and Highway Patrol Murray River, executed a search warrant at a home in Read Street, Howlong.
Police allegedly found five kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value in excess of one million dollars, MDMA with an estimated street value of $30,000 and ketamine with an estimated street value of $15,000. Police also seized $50,000 in cash, two vehicles and $100,000 in goods, which they will allege were the proceeds of crime.
Police executed a second search warrant at a farming property in Weller Gap Road Howlong, where documents were seized for forensic examination.
A 31-year-old man was arrested at the Read Street home and taken to Albury Police Station.
He has been charged with 31 offences:
- Supplying prohibited drug indictable and commercial quantity – 21 counts
- Supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis – three counts
- Supplying a prohibited drug – commercial quantity
- Supplying a prohibited drug – large commercial quantity – two counts
- Possessing a prohibited drug – three counts
- Dealing with property proceeds of crime.
This cash is alleged to be the proceeds of crime. Photo: Murray River Police.
He was refused bail to appear in court.
About 6 am on Wednesday, NSW Police with the assistance of Victoria Police executed a search warrant at a home in Wilson Street, Wodonga.
Police seized cocaine, communication devices and a vehicle.
A 29-year-old man was arrested and taken to Wodonga Police Station.
He appeared in Wodonga Magistrates Court, where he was extradited to NSW.
He was taken to Albury Police Station and charged with 10 offences including:
- Supplying a prohibited drug indictable and commercial quantity – six counts
- Supplying a prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis – two counts
- Supplying prohibited drug – commercial quantity.
He was refused bail to appear in Albury Local Court.
