Taser found in drug raids
Raids uncover drugs, weapons
DRUGS were not the only illegal items found during police raids for Operation Trawler.
Over the past two days, officers from the Toowoomba Tactical Crime Squad executed more than 20 raids that uncovered weapons, large sums of cash and a taser.
Senior Sergeant Matt Howard said the discoveries were “unusual”.
A TASER, an extendible baton and $3700 in cash were recovered by police during a series of raids in Jondaryan and Toowoomba.
In the past three days, the Toowoomba Tactical Crime Squad issued more than 20 search warrants and charged 26 people with 120 offences as part of Operation Trawler.
“So far to date we have arrested 288 people on 768 offences during Operation Trawler,” Tactical Crime Squad senior sergeant Matt Howard said.
“It is concerning that people continue to be in possession, traffic and supply dangerous drugs.
‘‘ WHAT IS DISAPPOINTING IS A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE MANIPULATED BY THESE DRUG PUSHERS...
SENIOR SERGEANT MATT HOWARD
“What is disappointing is a lot of people out there are manipulated by these drug pushers and buy drugs, which continues to line their pockets.
“This allows them to continue being a curse on society, and they will keep on pedalling their poison.”
Sgt Howard said it had been concerning to find weapons, such as the baton and taser, during the raids.
“It’s not usual to see these type of weapons,” he said.
“However policing is an in- herently risky business and we are always on the look out for these things when we conduct our warrants.
“It’s risky if they get into the wrong hands.”
He said the public had played a large part in the raids’ success.
“It is a massive amount of arrests and we are happy with the results,” Sgt Howard said.
“It is useful that people in the community are continuing to provide information to both us and crime stoppers.
“Detectives within the crime squad are working hard with the tip-offs from the community, and we would like to thank everyone for their help.”
Sgt Howard said there was currently “no ending in sight” for the operation.
Austin