POLICE SWOOP FOR $ 1M DRUGS BUST
IT IS A SIGNIFICANT OPERATION, WITH TIES INTO SOUTHEAST QUEENSLAND
A MAJOR drug syndicate operating between southeast Queensland and Townsville has been busted, bringing down a significant trafficking operation.
More than $ 1 million worth of drugs, weapons and over $ 200,000 in cash was seized as a result of the sixmonth Operation Papa Orthograde that targeted a sophisticated syndicate allegedly moving methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and cannabis from the southeast corner to Townsville.
Detectives from Townsville’s Major and Organised Crime Squad ( MOCS) launched the operation in March this year and over the course of six months dismantled the syndicate.
Townsville MOCS officerin- charge Detective Senior Sergeant Mick Walker said raids on Monday and Tuesday resulted in 31 arrests on 144 charges, including drug trafficking.
“It is a significant operation, with ties into southeast Queensland,” Sen- Sgt Walker said.
“There has been individuals involved in the alleged trafficking in the southeast corner that have been charged by the Brisbane Drug Squad. It was a very sophisticated syndicate.
“It will be alleged they were trafficking drugs from the southeast corner to Townsville. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle, where one piece of information can lead to unlimited outcomes, like has happened here and is continuing to happen.”
He said elaborate drug syndicates were like spiderwebs, with the MOCS team taking down just one in this latest operation.
“This is just one of those drug spiderwebs,” he said.
“We’re not kidding ourselves, our office is busy and this is just one operation that we are engaged in.
“The team put in long hours for this operation.
“It was resource- intensive and it was great work by the team and that’s on the back of information supplied to police by the public.”
Sen- Sgt Walker said it was a piece of information from the public that led to the major operation bringing down the syndicate and he called on the community to keep coming forward with information to help keep the dangerous substances off the streets.
SEN- SGT MICK WALKER
“Initially we had a piece of information from the public. From there we got in and got our hands dirty. We set a platform and built from there.
“It was a young crowd arrested in this operation. These are people that are unemployed, they’ve got all the modern comforts, and I think people realise what’s happening, and they’ve started talking to us. A lot of people in this town are doing it tough and you’ve got young people running around where money isn’t a problem, flashing cash and if we’re going to get fair dinkum about it the public have to engage with us and tell us what’s going on.”