New Year behind bars after gun, knives and meth found in car at Cootamundra

A MAN and a woman are set to see in the New Year behind bars after allegedly being caught driving through the Riverina with a cache of weapons, drugs and cash in their car.

Police say the pair were travelling in a blue hatchback when they were intercepted for a random breath test on the Olympic Highway at Cootamundra about 9.15pm on Saturday, December 27.

Officers attached to the Riverina Police District spoke with the female driver and a male passenger, with police alleging the man refused to provide his details.

A subsequent search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered a pistol and ammunition, two knives, about 45 grams of methylamphetamine, cannabis, a quantity of cash and four mobile phones.

Both occupants were arrested and taken to Cootamundra Police Station, where they were each charged with a string of serious drug and weapons offences.

The driver, a 32-year-old woman, was charged with possessing an unregistered pistol, failing to safely store a prohibited firearm and acquiring ammunition without a licence.

She was also charged with supplying a prohibited drug in an indictable and commercial quantity, possessing a prohibited drug, and being in custody of a knife in a public place.

Her passenger, a 47-year-old man, was charged with almost a dozen offences, including acquiring a pistol and ammunition while subject to a firearms prohibition order and being in custody of a knife in a public place as a subsequent offence.

The man was also charged with supplying a prohibited drug in an indictable and commercial quantity, possessing a prohibited drug, possessing or attempting to possess a prescribed restricted substance, and dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

Both accused were refused bail and are due to face Wagga Wagga Local Court on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.