Victoria Police detected 450 offences, including 22 alcohol and drug-impaired drivers during a weekend road safety blitz targeting high-risk driving on the Hume Freeway.
Operation Radihus saw regional, and State Highway Patrol units saturate the freeway across the Wangaratta and Wodonga Police Service Areas, aiming to enhance road safety, enforce road rules, and deter dangerous driving through high-visibility enforcement.
Tragically, 17 lives were lost across Eastern Region Division 4 last year — eight in Wangaratta and nine in Wodonga — while 169 people suffered serious injuries from motor vehicle collisions.
The operation took place on Friday March, 21 and Saturday, March 22, with police establishing two major checkpoints at Glenrowan Rest Area and Bentons Hill Rest Area.
Officers conducted vehicle and heavy vehicle inspections, drug and alcohol testing, and compliance checks to detect and remove high-risk drivers from the road.
The multi-agency operation involved uniform, local and state Highway Patrol officers, local detectives, Dog Squad, and partner agencies including the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, Safe Transport Victoria, and the Department of Transport and Planning.
Police conducted 4900 preliminary breath tests and 584 roadside drug tests, resulting in three drink-driving and 19 drug-driving offences.
Concerningly, 17 drivers were recorded travelling more than 25km/h over the legal speed limit.
The total 450 offences detected during Operation Radihus included 136 speeding offences; 118 heavy vehicle offences; 69 defect notices issued; 28 unregistered vehicles and other offences.
Police also arrested several people for a range of offences including possession of illicit drugs and weapons.
Police intercepted a male driver who had a suspended driver’s licence and wanted for questioning for various alleged offences including blackmail and threatening to damage property.
During a search of his vehicle, police located and seized quantities of illicit drugs and controlled weapons.
His vehicle was unregistered and later impounded by police for 30 days at a cost of $1850.
A 34-year-old South Melbourne man was charged with blackmail and threatening to damage/destroy property. He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on June 10, 2025.
He will also be summonsed to appear in court for offences including possessing a drug of dependence, possessing a controlled weapon, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, and driving whilst his licence is suspended.
A 40-year-old male from Bendigo was intercepted at the Glenrowan site and returned a positive result to a roadside drug test for illicit drugs. His vehicle was searched and drugs of dependence were located in the vehicle. The male will be summoned to appear in court at a later date.
A 64-year-old unlicenced truck driver from Craigieburn travelling to Sydney was intercepted by police in Cobram. He failed a Preliminary Oral Fluid Test and allegedly made admissions to police that he travelled via Cobram to avoid the police operation.
Police also located and seized methamphetamine and valium. He was charged with offences from an incident in January this year, including making threats to kill, and unlawful assault.
He was bailed to appear at Broadmeadows Magistrates Court at a later date. He is also facing multiple heavy vehicle national law offences and facing a possible four-year licence disqualification.
