Hunter officers seize drugs and fake cash as Cessnock arrest leads local contribution to statewide DV blitz

newy.com.au – A 52-year-old man arrested at a Cessnock property on an outstanding warrant for 15 domestic violence-related offences was among 752 people charged across NSW during police Operation Amarok XII from Wednesday 12 November to Saturday 15 November 2025.

NSW Police say the latest, intelligence-led phase of Operation Amarok targeted some of the state’s most dangerous domestic and family violence offenders, with officers from the Hunter among those involved in the four-day crackdown. Across NSW, 752 people were arrested and charged and 275 arrest warrants were executed during the operation.

Police said a total of 1,629 charges were laid, along with 1,464 bail compliance checks and 13,369 apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) compliance checks, which identified 395 breaches. Officers also carried out 120 firearms prohibition order searches, seizing 87 firearms and 30 other weapons.

The Hunter Domestic Violence High Risk Offender Team, assisted by Northern Region Operational Support Group officers, attended a home in Cessnock about 11.40am on Wednesday 12 November as part of an investigation into an alleged domestic violence-related incident. During a search of the property, police located a 52-year-old man in a vehicle parked at the address.

Police allege the man, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant for 15 domestic violence-related offences, refused to get out of the vehicle, forcing officers to make entry before arresting him. During a search, officers allegedly seized methamphetamine, two counterfeit $50 notes and a driver’s licence in another person’s name. The man was taken to Cessnock Police Station, where the warrant was executed, and he appeared before Bail Division Court 2 on Thursday 13 November 2025.

Operation Amarok XII also included a dramatic river rescue in Sydney, after officers from Auburn Police Area Command were called to Wentworth Point about 12.35am on Wednesday 12 November following reports of an argument. Police spoke to a man on Burroway Road, near the Parramatta River, who told them a woman was in the water.

Two constables located a 44-year-old woman in the river, but she was unable to swim to shore. Police said one officer entered the water and swam her to safety. The woman had reportedly jumped into the river to escape a physical assault. She was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

A 33-year-old man known to her was arrested and taken to Auburn Police Station. He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm (domestic violence), intentionally choke person with recklessness (domestic violence) and stalk or intimidate with intent to cause fear of physical harm. He appeared at Burwood Local Court the same day, where he was refused bail and is due to reappear on Wednesday 13 May 2026.

Other arrests highlighted by police during the operation included a 23-year-old man wanted on two domestic violence warrants who was arrested after a bus was stopped on the Hume Highway at Bass Hill, a series of firearm and weapons prohibition breaches detected on the South Coast and in the Monaro region, and alleged domestic violence offenders located in Coffs Harbour, Cabramatta West, Tumut, Wagga Wagga and West Tamworth.

Operation Amarok is led by the Domestic and Family Violence Command and involves officers from each region’s Domestic Violence High Risk Offenders Team, along with specialists from the Raptor Squad, Youth Command, the State Crime Command’s Child Protection Register, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and the Police Transport Command. Police say the operation is designed to protect victim-survivors and the wider community.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said this twelfth iteration of Operation Amarok showed police were “relentless” in confronting dangerous domestic violence perpetrators. “Operation Amarok sends a powerful message to every victim-survivor that you are not alone and police are working every day to protect you,” she said.

Ms Catley said officers were dealing with more than 150,000 calls for help every year and their commitment “will continue to do everything in their power to keep victims safe”.

Domestic and Family Violence Corporate Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said police remained focused on holding offenders to account. “NSW Police will continue to pursue and arrest the most serious domestic violence offenders and put them before the court,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner McKenna said domestic and family violence was unacceptable and had no place in the community, urging anyone experiencing or witnessing abuse to come forward. Police said they would listen, investigate and take action.