Victorian authorities have lifted travel restrictions in the Porepunkah area after conducting Australia’s largest tactical policing operation to search for fugitive Dezi Freeman. Freeman has been wanted since 26 August, when he is accused of shooting and killing two police officers at his residence in Victoria’s north-east.
Travel warnings that restricted movement in and around Porepunkah for over two weeks have now been partially lifted. A $1 million reward has been offered for information leading to Freeman’s capture, and there have been over 1,100 tips received so far.
Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Russell Barrett stated that the community of Victoria is seeing a return to normalcy, although the Mount Buffalo national park remains closed, and the search for Freeman remains focused on that area. The official advice is for people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior to triple zero.
On Friday, over 125 specialist officers conducted an extensive search operation in the rugged terrain, including searches of caves, rivers, plantations, gorges, and abandoned structures. The operation involved officers from all Australian states and New Zealand, but the challenging terrain and the possibility of Freeman being armed and dangerous mean that every step must be taken with caution.
Speculation has risen over how Freeman has managed to evade capture, with some believing he could be receiving help from within the community or hiding in a mineshaft or underground bunker. Barrett also acknowledged that it is possible that Freeman is either still in the area or has been harboured, or possibly dead.
Barrett assured that police are aware of the operation’s impact on the local community and are trying to find a balance between maintaining the manhunt and minimizing disruption to daily life.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/14/porepunkah-travel-warnings-eased-after-search-for-dezi-freeman-involving-largest-ever-tactical-policing-operation-ntwnfb
