Cops seize drugs, booze Palm Island raids signal ‘ proactive approach’

HOMES on Palm Island have been raided by police in an attempt to clear the streets of illegal alcohol and drugs.

Police seized 45 litres of alcohol, including wine, rum and other spirits, with a street value of about $ 3000, cannabis and more than $ 6000 in cash, which they will allege were the proceed of drug offences.

Twenty- one people were charged with a total of 25 offences in relation to liquor and drugs as part of an ongoing bid to rid the island of booze banned under the Alcohol Management Plan ( AMP).

Inspector Damien Crosby described the operation over the past week as successful.

“Some of ( the offenders arrested) were known to each other, there was no suggestion that it was a large syndicate or an orchestrated campaign in relation to sly grogging or drugs,” Insp Crosby said.

“It comes as a more proactive stance. Palm Island still has significant issues in relation to domestic violence and alcoholfuelled violence and we know that drugs and alcohol are causal factors for the levels of violence over there.

“It’s a continuation of previous enforcement activities and operations ( and) it reinforces that police will be proactive on the island in respect to liquor and drug offences.

“We will continue to target these people committing offences on the island.”

Insp Crosby said there was no denying police did not catch all the drugs and alcohol shipped over to the island.

“Some of the alcohol was seized at the ferry terminal but the drugs were located as a result of search warrants at homes,” he said.

“We are completely realistic that there are various methodologies used to get alcohol onto the island in vention of the AMP.

“We are realistic that the seizures we do detect are only a fraction of what is being brought onto the island.”

Operations targeting sly grogging and drug running on to Palm Island will continue with police asking for members of the public to come forward with information.

If you have any information that can help police, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. contra-