BY DAKOTA TAIT
A man has been charged after rural crime investigators seized a firearm during a three-day proactive operation targeting alleged rural theft and firearm offences in the Hunter.
Operation Fleece was established to target the movement of stock, illegal hunting, and the safe storage of firearms within vehicles and premises within the Merriwa and Cassilis area.
From Friday to Sunday, police conducted 15 safe storage inspections and two firearm prohibition order searches.
About 5.30pm on Friday, investigators stopped a vehicle on Bylong Valley Way at Baerami and spoke with the driver, a 40-year-old man.
The vehicle was searched, where police located and seized a sawn-off rifle, cannabis, and ammunition to undergo forensic examination.
He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station and now faces charges relating to drug and firearms offences.
Police will also allege in court the man is subject to a Firearms Prohibition Order.
The Baerami man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Saturday, where he was granted conditional bail to reappear at Muswellbrook Local Court on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, officers issued 30 traffic infringement notices and two companion animal infringement notices during the operation, including to the driver of a conducted livestock checks and issued infringement notices to the people transporting sheep, cattle and pigs allegedly uncompliant with biosecurity legislation.
