Castlemaine police, Bendigo Highway Patrol, and prison officials, including members of the canine unit, were involved in the day-long operation.

Castlemaine Senior Sergeant Peter Carey said it was based on intelligence that there had been instances of visitors trying to smuggle contraband including drugs, tobacco and weapons into the prison. 

“The operation involved a road block and checking the visitors as they entered the carpark to the prison,” he said. Vehicles were also searched.

“We ended up processing seven people for various offences including outstanding warrants, driving offences, drug driving and possession of drugs,” Senior Sergeant Carey said. 

A 24-year-old man was arrested for outstanding warrants and bailed. 

Police are awaiting laboratory results for three independent instances of alleged drug driving, involving a 39-year-old woman, a 42-year-old woman, and a 38-year-old woman respectively.

The woman, 38, will also be summonsed to court for possession of a drug of dependence.

A man, 29, was processed for driving while suspended, as was a 30-year-old woman.

Another woman, 45, was fined for having an unregistered vehicle. 

Senior Sergeant Carey said a number of weapons were seized, including knives and marine flares. “Not firearms,” he said.

A 37-year-old Broadmeadows woman was then arrested on Monday morning for trying to smuggle drugs into Loddon Prison.

“She was apprehended by prison officials and then passed over to us,” Senior Sergeant Carey said.

The woman was interviewed and will be charged on summons with possession of a drug of dependence. 

“We are committed to future operations,” Senior Sergeant Carey said.

“The message is quite clear – you will get caught.”