THREE men have been charged with a total of 27 offences associated with illegal hunting following an investigation by police in Western NSW.
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In July 2019 police from the Oxley Police District commenced Operation TARZAN, which is an ongoing operation targeting illegal hunting and trespass offences.
On Saturday, July 20, Narrabri Police stopped a motor vehicle on the Newell Highway at Edgeroi, north of Narrabri.
While speaking to two men in the vehicle, police noticed a freshly killed feral pig on the rear tray of the vehicle along with two dogs fitted with hunting collars.
Officers then searched the vehicle and seized hunting equipment including a GPS unit, dog collars and three knives.
Police commenced an investigation in relation to allegations that the two men, aged 26 and 28 from Narrabri, along with a third man, aged 21 from Edgeroi, had trespassed onto numerous private properties in the Bellata area for the purpose of illegally hunting, as well as illegally hunting in public areas including the Moema National Park, Terry Hie Hie Aboriginal Area and Gamilaroi Nature Reserve.
As a result of extensive enquiries the men were all issued with Court Attendance Notices on July 29.
The 28-year-old man was charged with:
- 1 x aggravated enter enclosed lands
- 2 x be accompanied by dog in nature reserve
- 1 x use prohibited implement to harm animal in nature reserve
- 3 x have control of dog with hunting collar in national park
- 1 x hunt game animal on private/public land without licence
- 1 x custody of knife in public place
The 26-year-old man was charged with:
- 5 x aggravated enter enclosed lands
- 2 x hunt game animal on private/public lands without licence
- 2 x be accompanied by dog in nature reserve
- 2 x have control of dog with hunting collar in national park and custody of a knife in public place
The 21-year-old man was charged with:
- 1 x aggravated enter enclosed lands
- 1 x use prohibited implement to harm animal in nature reserve
- 2 x have control of dog with hunting collar in national park
- 1 x hunt game animal on private/public land without licence
- 1 x be accompanied by dog in nature reserve.
All three men are due to appear at Narrabri Local Court on 24 September 2019.
Rural Crime Prevention Team northern zone co-ordinator, Detective Sergeant Bennett Nolan praised the strategies and team work in this incident.
"This is a fantastic example of proactive strategies being used by general duties police working in rural areas to disrupt illegal hunting offenders, whose activities can severely impact on farmers," he said.
MAP: The location where police stopped the vehicle
The Rural Crime Prevention Team continues to work with local police to target rural offenders, however rural crime can be reported to any police officer, anywhere."
Operation TARZAN will continue to focus on illegal hunting offences in the Oxley Police District during the coming months.
Police ask anyone with information about illegal hunting to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided anonymously.
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