A large amount of methamphetamines and more than $12,000 in cash were seized by police after a chase that involved use of the Air Wing on Friday, April 26.
Shepparton police Senior Constable Trevyn Pinto said Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit detectives tried to pull over a car displaying false number plates on Industrial Rd in Shepparton shortly before 8pm, but the Holden Commodore was driven off.
A police Air Wing plane was then used to follow the car until it stopped after running out of fuel at Invergordon about 25 minutes later.
Police said the driver of the vehicle allegedly tried to throw items out of the car, including 43g of methamphetamines and $12,850 in cash.
Police allege the car was also driven on the wrong side of the road at excessive speeds, with speeds of up to 200km/h allegedly reached.
The car was impounded after the incident.
A 52-year-old Kyabram man has been charged with failing to stop on police direction, reckless conduct endangering life, dangerous driving while pursued by police, trafficking methamphetamines, and dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
He was also charged with possessing methamphetamines, unlicensed driving, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving a vehicle with fraudulent number plates, and refusing to undergo a drug test.
He has been remanded in custody to appear in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court in May.
The car was stopped as part of a police operation on Friday and Saturday night by Shepparton police’s Crime Investigation Unit and Divisional Response Unit, as well as the police Air Wing.
The operation targeted high-risk driving and other driving matters.
This was one of two vehicles that failed to stop for police and was tracked by the police plane.
Sen Constable Pinto said a vehicle allegedly displaying false number plates that had been known to evade police in the past was followed by the Air Wing after it was sighted in Shepparton on Friday night.
The police plane followed the car to a Shepparton house, where all four women in the Holden Calais left the vehicle.
An imitation gun was allegedly found at the scene, Sen Constable Pinto said.
The driver, a 21-year-old Shepparton woman, will be summonsed to court on charges including failing to stop on police direction, unlicensed driving and driving an unregistered vehicle.
Her vehicle was also impounded.
In another police stop as part of the operation, police allegedly found a small amount of methamphetamines, cocaine and Xanax.
The driver, a 29-year-old Shepparton woman, was charged with possessing methamphetamines and unlicensed driving.
Her passenger, a 42-year-old Shepparton man, was charged with possessing cocaine, possessing methamphetamines and possessing a schedule four poison.
They were both bailed to appear in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court at a later date.
Overall, the police operation saw six cars impounded, while a total of seven drivers were picked up for allegedly driving either unlicensed or on a disqualified or suspended licence.
Five motorists also tested positive in drug driving tests.
A further three people were also arrested on outstanding warrants.