Police swarmed major arterials and main roads across Broadmeadows, Craigieburn, Campbellfield, Fawkner, and Tullamarine as part of an operation focused on preventing the transportation of weapons and drugs on key Melbourne roads.
Operation Hornets ran between February 17 and 19 with police scanning more than 18,850 vehicles using Automatic Numberplate Recognition Technology, disrupting and intercepting those with known links to organised crime, subject to firearm prohibition orders, or with a history of dangerous driving.
During the course of the operation, 23 people were arrested and four cars were impounded. Fifteen people affiliated with organised crime were checked by police.
A 20-year-old Bundoora man was charged with possession of drugs after police pulled over a black Holden sedan on Friday evening.
During a search of the vehicle, police allegedly located a quantity of what is believed to be cocaine. The car was impounded by police.
Police attempted to intercept a motorcycle before it evaded police in Roxburgh Park after it was observed without registration plates. The AirWing tracked the motorcycle to Chesterville Court in Roxburgh Park where the rider was arrested at about 9.30pm. The 25-year-old driver was charged on summons for driving a motorcycle without registration plates and his motorcycle was impounded.
Police intercepted a white Audi hire car on Gerbert Street in Broadmeadows at about 10.30pm on Friday. Upon making further checks it was discovered that the driver was disqualified. The 25-year-old man from Broadmeadows was charged with driving while disqualified.
Police intercepted a black Mercedes Benz at Campbellfield Plaza on Friday evening, after it registered in the ANPR system.
The driver, a 21-year-old from Craigieburn, is alleged to have been driving while suspended, and also failing to display P plates, resulting in his car being impounded.
Police intercepted a driver of a vehicle on Sydney Road in Campbellfield about 12.30am on Sunday after it registered in the ANPR system. The driver, a 24-year-old Epping man, was subsequently issued with a fine for failing to display P plates, driving a prohibited vehicle and an unroadworthy vehicle.
Operation Hornets will continue with future nights of activity planned.
