An anti-bikie police operation in the Hunter Valley has led to a man's arrest and the alleged recovery of a stolen motorcycle and drugs.
Police intercept on Wollombi Road
Officers from the specialist Raptor Squad were conducting patrols on Wollombi Road at Cessnock around 11:40am on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Their attention was drawn to a motorbike displaying a numberplate that appeared to have been altered.
A short time later, police successfully stopped the rider at the intersection of Barrett Avenue and Mount View Road. This initial traffic stop quickly escalated into a more significant investigation.
Stolen vehicle and drug discovery
Subsequent police inquiries allegedly revealed that the motorcycle had been reported stolen from a residential property in Morpeth in November 2025. It was also alleged that the 49-year-old male rider was driving on a disqualified licence.
Upon searching the man, officers stated they discovered and seized approximately four grams of methamphetamine, a prohibited drug commonly known as 'ice'.
Charges laid and court appearance
The man was arrested at the scene and taken to Cessnock Police Station for processing. He was charged with four offences:
- Using a vehicle displaying a misleading numberplate
- Driving while disqualified
- Driving a stolen vehicle
- Possessing a prohibited drug
He was refused bail and spent the night in police custody. The accused is scheduled to make his first court appearance at a bail hearing today, January 16, 2026.
The Raptor Squad is a high-profile police unit tasked with targeting outlaw motorcycle gang and associated criminal activities across New South Wales. This interception in Cessnock demonstrates their ongoing operational focus in the Hunter region.
