A man has been charged after a firearm, drugs and cash were found during a vehicle stop in the Hunter overnight.
Police received information from a member of the public about a grey Ford Ranger with Queensland registration plates allegedly being driven erratically on the Pacific Highway south of Taree about 11.15pm on Sunday.
The Ford - allegedly stolen from the Gold Coast suburb of Burleigh Heads last week - later stopped at a service station on the Pacific Highway at Heatherbrae, where officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District arrested the 44-year-old male driver.
Police conducted a search of the vehicle where they allegedly located a loaded shortened rifle under the driver's seat, methylamphetamine, cannabis and cash.
The man was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with nine offences, including take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, possess shortened firearm without authority, possess loaded firearm in public place, not keep prohibited firearm safely, possess ammunition without licence, possess prohibited drug and suspected stolen goods in custody.
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