Four men have been charged following a pursuit on the state's north coast.
Around 8am on Tuesday (5 December 2023), officers from the Mid North Coast Highway Patrol were patrolling in the Pacific Highway at Kundabung, when they observed a silver BMW X3 travelling at alleged speed of 146km/h in a 110km/h zone.
A pursuit was initiated after the vehicle failed to stop; however, was terminated due to safety issues.
Four men were later allegedly seen abandoning the BMW in Frederickton before they all left in a Toyota Hilux.
Around 12pm that same day, a Toyota Hilux was sighted on the Pacific Highway, Coffs Harbor, where police engaged in a pursuit and successfully deployed road spikes.
The vehicle came to a stop at Moonee Beach with police arresting three men, aged 28, 38 and 40, and a 28-year-old woman.
During a search of the Hilux, the men and the woman, police seized a firearm, ammunition, knuckle dusters, flick knife, cocaine, methylamphetamine, a sum of cash, allegedly stolen fishing gear, and the registration plates from the BMW X3.
The men and woman were taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station.
They were all charged with:
- Possess unauthorised pistol
- Possess unregistered unauthorised pistol in public place
- Possess loaded firearm public place
- Use, supply stolen firearm or firearm part
- Receive property stolen outside NSW greater than $15,000
- Deal with property proceeds of crime less than $100,000
- Not keep firearm safely - pistol
- Possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority
- Deal with property proceeds of crime equal to or greater than $100,000
The 40-year-old and 38-year-old men both received two additional charges of possess prohibited drug, and the 28-year-old man received an additional two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.
They were all refused bail and appeared before Coffs Harbour Local Court yesterday (Wednesday 6 December 2023), where they were all formally refused bail.
