Police urge vigilance
Drug tip-offs come in from public
SLY drug dealers and manufacturers are constantly coming up with new ways to circumvent police detection, the head of Geelong’s Criminal Investigation Unit says.
Offenders often set up makeshift labs in garages or industrial buildings and sometimes rent houses purely to cultivate cannabis, police say.
CIU Inspector Paul Edebone said police had reported a surge in notifications of drug activity since the launch of the ‘Dob in a Dealer’ campaign last week.
Officers are calling for more tip-offs to help curb Geelong’s drug distribution.
Insp Edebone urged residents to look out for signs of drug trafficking or dealing in their street, including an influx of pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
“Some signs of dealing is a lot of vehicle and pedestrian traffic outside premises where they come and go very fre- quently but for short periods,” Insp Edebone said.
“That indicates they are doing deals or buying and using in the premises.”
He said telltale signs for grow houses, where cannabis is manufactured, included taped up windows, electricity diversions and extra lighting.
“They are very cunning. They might be able to utilise some (stolen) power to generate their lighting for the hydroponic set-up,” Insp Edebone said.
While crop houses often have a sweet and pungent odour, Insp Edebone said ecstasy and ice labs often did not omit smells.
He said ice manufacturers were increasingly converting their garages into mini-science labs or developing the drugs at industrial sites.
Ice was the most commonly trafficked drug in the 12 months to July this year, closely followed by cannabis.
Crime Statistics Agency data shows 164 drug dealing and trafficking offences were recorded in Geelong in the same period, with 73 offences linked to ice dealing and trafficking, and 35 offences associated with cannabis.
Ecstasy dealers racked up 13 offences while heroin was linked to 19 offences.
Insp Edebone said police often relied on information from the community to track down dealers and called for anyone who witnessed suspicious activity to contact them. If you think someone may be dealing, trafficking or manufacturing drugs call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. any distinguishable