Black market tobacco bag man arrested in highway bust at Monteith

This story is free to read. Help Murray Bridge News tell more stories like this by subscribing today.

Police have arrested a Victorian man and seized almost half a million dollars in cash in the Murraylands as part of their war on black market tobacco.

Detectives from Operation Eclipse stopped the 40-year-old man’s Toyota sedan at Monteith around 4pm on Friday.

In the boot, they allegedly found a shopping bag containing $447,750 in cash, believed to be the proceeds of illicit tobacco sales in South Australia.

The man was arrested, charged with money laundering and taken to the Murray Bridge police station, where he will remain until an appearance at the Adelaide Magistrates Court.

Anyone with information about the illicit tobacco trade is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au, anonymously if needed.

Speeding motorcyclist arrested at Callington

Meanwhile, police at Callington have arrested a serial speedster alleged to have evaded patrols on numerous occasions over the past 12 months.

Police allegedly clocked the 30-year-old Brukunga man’s motorcycle at 150 kilometres per hour in a 50 zone on Mine Road, Kanmantoo around school pick-up time on Monday.

They did not pursue it, but later caught up with the man at a home at Callington.

He was charged with multiple counts of driving dangerously to escape police, extreme speeding, driving with unassigned number plates and – unbelievably – riding without a helmet.

Officers also banned him from driving for 12 months and confiscated his Yamaha bike, which had an action camera mounted on it.

Highway patrol coordinator Senior Sergeant First Class George Gasiorowski alleged that the man had been recorded doing more than 180km/h in the past.

“This kind of riding is reckless and puts lives at risk,” he said.

“Police will continue to investigate and take action against anyone who chooses to evade police or treat our roads like a racetrack.”

A motorcyclist was killed in an accident on the Old Princes Highway at Kanmantoo, only a kilometre or two away, in May.

Three disqualified drivers will face further penalties

Finally, police have arrested two drivers and reported a third for alleged offences on local roads over the weekend:

• A 57-year-old Gawler East man who allegedly returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.337, nearly seven times the legal limit, while also driving on a disqualified licence on the Dukes Highway at Tailem Bend around 2am on Saturday; he was reported, has his licence suspended for an extra 12 months, and lost his Holden sedan for 28 days
• A 43-year-old Meningie man allegedly caught driving on a disqualified licence, and giving false details to police, on the Old Princes Highway at Murray Bridge East around 2.40am on Sunday; he was arrested, charged and bailed, but had his Volkswagen sedan confiscated for 28 days
• A 27-year-old Clearview man who allegedly blew 0.126, more than double the legal blood alcohol limit, on Long Island Road, Murray Bridge just after 2am on Monday; he, too was allegedly already disqualified from driving, was arrested and charged, and had an extra six months put on his suspension