Tag Archives: oceania

No-fly zone extended, heavy police presence remains in hunt for accused gunman

2025-09-22 FreeNews

The no-fly zone over Porepunkah in Victoria's high country has been extended to Friday, as the town marks four weeks since accused gunman Dezi Freeman allegedly fatally shot two police officers.

The Australia Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) granted a no-fly extension today.

The no-fly zone is within an 18 kilometre radius of Porepunkah Airport and it includes all aircraft, including drones.

Police searching operation takes place at the Porepunkah Airfield on Sunday afternoon. 7 September 2025. Photo: Eddie Jim.

The ban was initially established due to police suspicion that Freeman remains armed and poses a risk to aircraft.

The manhunt for accused cop killer Freeman has now entered its 28th day.

A heavy police presence remains on the ground in Porepunkah, neighbouring town Bright and the greater Victorian alpine region.

Victoria Police said crews are committed to using "every available resource and the necessary skills" needed to find Freeman.

"Resourcing numbers will continue to fluctuate in-line with operational requirements," a police spokesperson said.

Police last week lifted travel warnings for Porepunkah, however reminded residents and visitors to remain vigilant.

Members of the public had been earlier advised to avoid the small town in Victoria's north-east.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Russell Barrett said the move was to enable local residents to "return to a state of normality".

Police anticipate visitor numbers will increase over the school holiday period.

Locals breathed a collective sigh of relief as the normally thriving town struggled for nearly three weeks under major travel restrictions.

"It's been hard, we lost I'm guessing, in the 20 thousands in turnover," Cherry Walk Cafe owner Leanne Boyd told 9News.

The Mount Buffalo National Park remains closed.

"This decision is being constantly assessed and we will advise as soon as the park can re-open," Victoria Police said in a statement.

Dezi Freeman

Freeman, 56, has not been officially seen since August 26 when he allegedly gunned down officers Neal Thompson, 59, and 34-year-old Vadim De Waart-Hottart.

A $1 million reward was offered for any information leading to the arrest of the accused gunman, the largest of any offered in the state.

Superintendent Craig Darlow last week said police have been given 200 tips since the reward was announced.

Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said he remains open to all possibilities in regards to the whereabouts of Freeman and said the reward was "just another avenue" in the hunt.

Police have received more than 1000 tips from the public so far.

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Man pleads guilty to bungled plan to smuggle $1 billion of cocaine into Australia

2025-09-22 FreeNews

A man involved in a foiled bid to smuggle $1 billion worth of cocaine into Australia has pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial.

Paul Anthony Masterson admitted in the Western Australian District Court today to possessing the illicit drug with intent to sell or supply it.

Police seized what they said at the time was an Australian record 2.4 tonne cocaine haul bound for Australia in November 2022 off the South American coast.

A man involved in a foiled bid to smuggle $1 billion worth of cocaine into Australia has pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial.

But the drug traffickers had no idea the shipment, which was linked to a Mexican cartel, had been impounded, and the Australian arm of the smuggling syndicate continued to prepare to receive it.

Officers later duped the group into believing the cargo had arrived off the WA coast, with dummy packaging containing an inert substance dropped about 40 nautical miles off the Perth coast.

Over three days in December 2022, a shore party made multiple trips out to sea to retrieve the cargo because they couldn't find it.

A man involved in a foiled bid to smuggle $1 billion worth of cocaine into Australia has pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial.

Officers watched their moves from the air and a tactical response group arrested three people aboard a vessel with about 1.2 tonnes of the inert substance.

Detectives raided properties and executed search warrants across WA over the following weeks, with a total of 12 people charged.

Two were charged after police stopped a vehicle on the Great Eastern Highway, near Coolgardie, in January 2023 and found more than $2 million cash inside it.

Masterson's trial was vacated and he will be sentenced on Friday.

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Two taken to hospital after ‘chemical smell’ triggers evacuation in Brisbane CBD

2025-09-22 FreeNews

Two people have been taken to hospital after office workers reported a chemical smell in Brisbane's CBD.

The Queensland Fire Department said three crews and a scientific HAZMAT unit were dispatched to the scene on the corner of George and Mary streets about 11.50am after reports of a chemical smell coming from a vent.

The building was partially evacuated for several hours while crews investigated.