SCOURGE OF THE HIGH SEAS

THE Coast’s methamphetamine epidemic has spread to the waterways.

Water police on Saturday nabbed an addict riding a jet ski on the Broadwater.

The man was one of three people arrested for drug offences while out on the water over the weekend.

The problem has become so bad that water police are bringing specialist drugs officers on patrols.

“It has become something we need to address,” Acting Sen Sgt Mitch Gray said.

POLICE are cracking down on dangerous “speed” freaks using Gold Coast waterways, targeting vessel operators high on drugs.

Water cops busted three people – two riding jetskis and one in a tinnie – for being under the influence of illicit substances at the weekend.

The busts kicked off a twomonth crackdown, Operation Whitewater, and police have operators on drugs, tinnie hoons and juvenile boat thieves in their sights.

Gold Coast water police boss Acting Senior Sergeant Mitch Gray said a September crackdown busted three operators with amphetamines in their system and two with cannabis in just a fortnight.

Now they commonly bring specialist officers from the Random Drug Testing Unit on patrols, he said.

“It has become something we need to address,” Acting Sen Sgt Gray said.

“I’m very disappointed about people driving and using drugs. It’s completely unsafe and they are going to hurt themselves or someone else.”

Water police arrested a man in his 50s for alleged drug-driving of a jetski on the Broadwater near Sea World about 8.30am on Saturday.

He was alleged to have methamphetamine in his system but police would not know if it was speed, cocaine or danger drug ice until more testing.

Another man, also in his 50s, was busted three hours later for alleged drug-driving of a tinnie at Jacobs Well with cannabis in his system.

The third drug-related arrest at the weekend was yesterday morning, a jetskier allegedly for using cannabis.

Acting Sen Sgt Gray said Operation Whitewater also involved using the police chopper plus officials from Marine Safety Queensland and Queensland Boating and Fisheries.

Offences of tinnie hoons disguising supercharged engines with lower horsepower covers – not requiring a licence – dropped just over 30 per cent since the first half of the year.

But a spike in juveniles stealing tinnies off the pontoons of owners had emerged along with continued reckless use of tinnies a concern.

“Someone is going to get killed. Parents have to take some responsibility for these kids. Their brains aren’t fully formed but they are ending up in a high-powered vessel to use,” Acting Sen Sgt Gray said.

The most recent bust for stealing a tinnie was a 15-yearold from Benowa who would likely get a caution and community service.

Operation Whitewater will ramp up into the busy Christmas and New Year period.