Drugs and knives were among contraband found during a one-day joint operation targeting the trafficking of contraband by visitors to a Central West NSW correctional facility.
At 8am yesterday (Sunday 8 September 2019), officers from Chifley Police District, State Crime Command's Strike Force Raptor, and NSW Corrective Services Security Operations Group conducted a joint operation targeting visitors to a correctional facility in Lithgow.
Throughout the operation, 77 inmate visitors and 47 vehicles were subjected to a rigorous screening process as they entered the centre.
During the operation, officers located an amount of cannabis on a 19-year-old female visitor. She was issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear at Lithgow Local Court on 19 September 2019.
A 23-year-old man was also issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear at Lithgow Local Court the same date after three knives were allegedly located in his vehicle.
A 39-year-old woman was issued a Criminal Infringement Notice for offensive language.
Several visitors were also denied entry to the complex during the screening process.
Strike Force Raptor Highway Patrol conducted a traffic enforcement operation in the immediate area around the complex, issuing a total of 17 traffic infringement notices and six vehicle defect notices.
"Recently both Corrective Services NSW and Chifley Police District have noticed an increase in offences relating to the introduction of contraband to the Lithgow Correctional Centre," Chifley Police District Inspector David Abercrombie said.
"As a result of the operation there was a large volume of interactions and a large volume of vehicles and visitors searched.
"Operations as such act as a terrific deterrent and will be of regular occurrence, not only at Lithgow but other centres around the state."
