POLICE swarmed to Swan Hill this week for a one-day crackdown targeting repeat offenders across the community.
Extra police were called in from outlying towns and Mildura on Tuesday to take part in the operation, which lasted about 16 hours.
Police said during the course of the day almost 1100 people were spoken to, more than 900 breath tests were conducted and search warrants were executed on two Swan Hill homes.
The residential raids found “not small” quantities of methamphetamine and cannabis, Sergeant Mark Griffiths told The Guardian.
Two men and a woman, all in their early 20s were charged with various offences, including trafficking, use and possession of illicit drugs.
Charges of possessing the proceeds of crime were also brought against the alleged offenders, with more than $3500 cash found during the search.
Meanwhile, police also charged a handful of people with avoiding warrants, in co-operation with the Sheriff’s Department.
The six offenders allegedly shared 11 imprisonment warrants, 25 infringement warrants and $23,650 of outstanding payments in their names.
Police also cast their net across the Swan Hill district roads, with four separate breath-test stations set up and 920 tests issued.
Four traffic infringements were issued — including unregistered motor vehicle, disqualified driver and drug driving offences.
Five unroadworthy notices were also handed out to motorists.
Sergeant Griffiths said police considered the operation a success.
He said the one-day blitz was “high impact” policing utilising additional police officers.
“The overriding primary focus was recidivist management,” Sgt Griffiths said.
The operation was one of many across the state that had targeted recidivist offenders, he said.
“In consultation with the Sheriff’s department, we had an opportunity to clear up a lot of their warrants.
“The success I imagine would see it being the first of many.”
