Known drug crook fails to front court, conviction warrant out for her arrest

Natasha Harper has failed to front Albury Local Court to answer 34 charges related to a search of the car back on October 27.

Police found the trio in the car did not have the correct permits to cross the border into NSW, rather they were required at the time to instead fly into Sydney.

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Checks on Harper and the two men also revealed they were know illicit drug users and suppliers.

Police found a further $19,950 in cash hidden under the front passenger seat of the car.

Most of Harper's charges related to stolen identity cards in her possession, including inside her purse.

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Defence lawyer Tim Hemsley said Harper had failed to turn up and could not be contacted, so told magistrate Richard Funston he was withdrawing his representation.

Mr Funston issued a warrant for Harper's arrest.

Harper, 31, of Roseland Road, Wodonga, was convicted on charges of dealing with property believed to be the proceeds of crime and for not being compliant with a noticed direction with respect to COVID-19.

She was convicted also on 16 charges each of goods in custody suspected of being stolen and of possessing identity information to commit an indictable offence.

The car was pulled over just after 9am.

Harper tried to tell police that she was on her way to Albury airport to catch a flight to Sydney for a job interview - about which she couldn't provide any details - but checks revealed the plane had departed 15 minutes earlier.

Police told the trio that they and their car would be searched because of their suspicious behaviour and shared criminal history.

They found $19,950 in cash in Harper's right jacket pocket and $12,120 in her left pocket.

She claimed she had drawn down on her superannuation.

One of the men later tried to argue the cash was related to his business.

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