Teenager Arrested in REDHEAD During Operation RAID

9 September 2024

Police have concluded Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers), a large-scale state-wide initiative targeting impaired driving and road trauma across New South Wales. The operation, which ran from Thursday, 5th September 2024, until early Sunday, 8th September 2024, resulted in over 6,600 traffic offences being detected, with more than 470 drivers testing positive for drugs.

One of the notable incidents occurred in Redhead, Newcastle, where police arrested a 17-year-old male during a Random Breath Test operation on Steel Street. After officers informed him they intended to search his vehicle, the teenager allegedly fled the scene on foot. Police pursued and apprehended him a short time later on an adjacent street. Upon searching the teenager, police allegedly discovered 20 grams of cannabis, a small bag containing a white powder, a set of scales, a knuckle duster, a flick knife, and $2,300 in cash.

The teenager was taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with several offences, including possession of a prohibited drug, possession of a prohibited weapon without a permit, custody of a knife in a public place, and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime with intent to conceal. He was granted strict conditional bail and is set to appear in a Children’s Court on Monday, 16th September 2024.

Operation RAID saw a heavy police presence across the state, with officers focusing on drink driving, drug driving, and fatigue — three key contributors to NSW’s annual road toll. More than 120,000 Random Breath Tests were conducted during the operation, leading to 211 drivers being charged with alcohol-related offences. In addition, police conducted 10,885 Random Drug Tests, with 470 drivers returning positive results.

In addition to the Redhead incident, other significant arrests and charges were made during the operation:

In Ourimbah on the Central Coast, a 31-year-old woman was stopped at a Random Breath Test site. After failing an oral fluid test, police detained her, while her 32-year-old passenger attempted to flee the scene. After a foot pursuit, the man was arrested and allegedly found with 206 grams of cocaine, 57 grams of methylamphetamine, and over $4,000 in cash. He was charged with multiple drug supply offences and refused bail.
In Smithfield, a 19-year-old P2 provisional licence holder was caught driving over 30km/h above the speed limit. She allegedly tested positive to a Random Breath Test, and a secondary test revealed a high-range reading of 0.207. She was charged with driving under the influence and exceeding the speed limit and will appear in court in October.
In Kellyville, a 46-year-old man was stopped for speeding, allegedly driving 95km/h in a 60km/h zone. A Random Breath Test allegedly showed a high-range reading of 0.188. He was charged with high-range drink driving and issued an infringement notice for speeding.

These incidents highlight the widespread impact of Operation RAID across NSW, with police committed to ensuring safer roads by cracking down on impaired drivers and enforcing road safety laws.