PLEASE NOTE: An arrest of the 18-year-old man can be downloaded via Hightail https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/MMSURammu4
An additional three people have been charged with alleged drug offences, after police dismantled a dial-a-dealer drug syndicate on the New South Wales/ACT border.
In September 2025, the Southern Region Enforcement Squad established Strike Force Torlin to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs on the New South Wales and ACT Border.
Strike Torlin was led by the Southern Region Enforcement Squad, with assistance from the Southern Operational Support Group, Southern Domestic Violence High Risk Offenders Team, Monaro Police District, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and ACT Policing.
About 12:30pm on (Friday 20 March 2026), officers responded to a carpark on Crawford Street and Antil Street, Queanbeyan. Police spoke to the driver and passenger – both men aged 19 – before subsequently conducting a vehicle search.During the search, police allegedly located and seized 58 MDMA capsules, 0.54gram of cocaine and a mobile phone, before both men were arrested and taken to Queanbeyan Police Station.The passenger was charged with six offences; two counts of supply prohibited drug greater than indictable less than commercial and four counts of possess prohibited drug. He was refused bail and appeared before bail Division Court 3 on Saturday 21 March 2026 and was granted conditional bail to appear in Queanbeyan Local Court on Monday 27 April 2026. The driver was charged with take part supply prohibited drug greater than indictable and less than commercial quantity. He was refused bail and appeared before bail Division Court 3 on Saturday 21 March 2026, where he was granted conditional bail to appear in Queanbeyan Local Court on Monday 13 April 2026.
About 1.30pm on Friday 20 March 2026, officers attempted to arrest an 18-year-old man who allegedly drove off in his car at speed, before police stopped and arrested him and three others in the car. Police allegedly seized 20 MDMA capsules, 344 grams of cannabis, knuckle dusters and OC spray. The 18-year-old man was charged with seven offences; supply prohibited drug greater than indictable and less than commercial quantity, two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, three counts of possess prohibited drug and not stop vehicle when directed to do so. He was refused bail and appeared before Bail Division Court 3 on Saturday 21 March 2026, where he was granted conditional bail to appear in Queanbeyan Local Court on Monday 13 April 2026.The passengers were released pending further inquiries.
On Thursday 19 March 2026, eight people were arrested and charged. They remain before the courts.
In total, Strike Force Torlin has achieved the following;
- 11 people charged
- Over 250 grams of cocaine, 150 MDMA capsules, 500 grams of cannabis seized
- Over $180,000 cash seized
- 3 firearms, ammunition and prohibited weapons including knuckle dusters seized.
- 4 Firearm Prohibition Order searches
- 11 ADVOCC completed
- 3 bail compliance checks.
Southern Region Licensing completed 27 safe storage inspections, 2 firearms licenses were suspended and 13 registered firearms seized.
Strike Force Torlin continues.
