Australian police seize illicit drugs in highway patrols

SYDNEY, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Police in the state of New South Wales (NSW) said in a statement on Sunday that more than 5 kg of methylamphetamine and almost 11 kg of cocaine, with an estimated potential combined street value of over 6.3 million Australian dollars (about 4.09 million U.S. dollars), have been seized in the state's southwest.

Officers, who were conducting patrols of the Hay area shortly before 2 p.m. local time on Friday, stopped a black car on the Sturt Highway.

After the 30-year-old male driver got a positive result in a roadside drug test, officers searched the man and found cocaine and cash in his possession. Officers conducted a search of the car and seized the drugs, as well as more than 130,000 Australian dollars in cash, and two mobile phones.

The driver was arrested and was charged with seven offenses. ■