Police seize child porn in drug raid

KIRWAN police have dismantled a drug lab, stumbled across child pornography on a laptop, and arrested eight people after a series of separate raids.

When police raided a Cranbrook property a clandestine lab was cooking which forced everyone to evacuate until specialised officers deemed the area safe.

Kirwan Police Station officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Jason Brosnan said a woman was at the property at the time and has since been charged with a string of offences including drug possession and supply. In another raid at a Kirwan property targeting drug offences police allegedly stumbled across material they weren’t expecting.

“In the process of looking for evidence to support drug offences we came across the child exploitation material and then handed that over to the CPIU (Child Protection Investigation Unit) for further investigation,” Sen-sgt Brosnan said.

A man has been charged with a string of drug offences and investigations continue.

The series of raids, conducted earlier this month in the Kirwan police division, resulted in the arrest of eight people charged with 36 offences.

Officers were targeting drug offences and uncovered both methamphetamine and cannabis.

“I’m very satisfied (with the results). The level of charges and the items located are usually associated with plain clothes investigative sections (within the police district),” Sen-sgt Brosnan said.

“And for general duties officers to be able to achieve these sorts of results is a testament to their efforts and the efforts of their sergeant.”

Sen-sgt Brosnan said the raids would be carried out frequently in a bid to crack down on crime in the area.

“These warrants, whilst they are impressive and they made a small difference, it hasn’t stopped all the drugs in the Kirwan division, or the Townsville division for that matter,” he said.

“So operations of this nature will continue into the future targeting both drug and property offenders.”

All offenders were bailed and will face Townsville Magistrates Court at a later date.