More than 600 drivers have been detected allegedly driving with drugs in their systems during a statewide police traffic operation last week, which included a driver at Wardell.

Operation RAID (Remove All Impaired Drivers) commenced at 12am on Thursday (12 February 2026) and concluded at 4am Sunday (15 February 2026), targeting people driving while affected by alcohol, drugs and fatigue.

During the operation, police conducted 9,126 drug tests with 604 people returning positive samples and conducted more than 121,000 breath tests with 167 drink driving offences detected.

In the Northern Region, there were 1,802 total infringements, which included 480 for speeding, 44 for PCA charges, 166 positive drug driving tests and 43 crashes.

Locally, about 11.05pm on Saturday, 14 February 2026, police from Ballina Traffic and Highway Patrol attempted to stop a hatchback on Langs Way, Woodburn. When the vehicle failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated where the vehicle allegedly reached speeds of up to 200KPH. The pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns, before the hatchback crashed near Wardell.

Police arrested the driver, a 33-year-old woman, nearby, allegedly locating prohibited drugs after searching the woman and vehicle. She was taken to Ballina Police Station, where an oral fluid test returned positive for cannabis, methamphetamine and cocaine.

She was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, possess prohibited drug and class A vehicle exceed speed limit greater than 45KPH. She will appear before Ballina Local Court on Thursday, 26 February 2026. The oral fluid test has been sent away for analysis.

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said the focus on targeting people driving while affected by alcohol, drugs and fatigue doesn’t end with the conclusion of this operation.

“While Operation RAID has wrapped up, police continue to have a highly visible presence on our roads.

“Too many lives have been shattered because someone thought they were fine to drive when they weren’t.

“Too much of what happens on our roads is preventable. Police are out there every day, but they can’t be everywhere – we need drivers to make better, safer choices – for themselves, their passengers and everyone else.”

Assistant Commissioner David Driver, Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, said, disappointingly, drivers continued to get behind the wheel after consuming drugs and too much alcohol.

“People affected by drugs, alcohol and fatigue are some of the most dangerous behaviours we see on our roads because all of them slows reactions, impair judgement and puts every road user at risk,” Assistant Commissioner Driver said.

“Drug use by those driving vehicles is particularly concerning as data indicates that 24 per cent of fatalities on NSW roads involve the presence of illicit substances”.

“Last year, there were over 28,000 positive roadside drug indications with police conducting over 215,000 random drug tests.

“Drivers need to understand that when they consume any illicit drug, the chances of being involved in a fatal crash increase.

“Unfortunately, police consistently see a high number of roadside drug test detections, often combined with alcohol or high speeds, during each traffic operation, which is why officers will continue to run enforcement activity to deter dangerous driving behaviour.”