Three people were arrested at Coober Pedy last night after allegedly flying into the outback from New South Wales in breach of COVID-19 directions.
Yesterday afternoon, Friday 25 June, SA Police were notified that a private plane, a Cessna with a pilot and two passengers on board, had attempted to land in the Northern Territory but were denied entry as all three were from New South Wales.
Further inquiries revealed that the plane had departed Griffith, NSW, on Thursday and landed in Coober Pedy – against cross border directions on 24 June. The group then attempted to enter the Northern Territory on Friday but were denied and returned to Coober Pedy, again in breach of cross border directions.
Coober Pedy Police were tasked to locate the travellers and identify where they had been to assess the risk posed to our vulnerable outback communities.
Patrols located the travellers at a local karaoke bar just after midnight.
A 39-year-old woman, a 21-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man, all from New South Wales, were arrested and charged with failing to comply with the Emergency Management Act.
They were refused police bail and will appear in the Magistrates Court on Monday.
