Wanted: GC drug squad

Glitter Strip patrols could identify ‘real’ pushers

SHOCK data that shows a 17 per cent increase in Gold Coast drug offences is sparking a call for a dedicated police squad to patrol the Glitter Strip.

Leading criminologists and police insiders say the Coast must get its own drug squad similar to other regional tourist cities such as Cairns and Townsville.

Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy told the Bulletin: “The Gold Coast desperately needs its own dedicated drug squad – the fact that Queensland’s secondlargest city does not have one is unacceptable.

“The data clearly supports the creation of a drug squad on the Gold Coast. Since 2017, we have seen a 17 per cent increase in drug offences on the Coast. This compares to Cairns with a 10 per cent increase and Townsville with a 9 per cent increase.

“Both of these cities have dedicated drug squads.”

Labor and the LNP are yet to commit to specific drug squad funding but law and order looms as a vote winner in the lead-up to October state election.

A report in the Bulletin reveals that cannabis, alcohol and dexamphetamines are the most popular substance among Gold Coast teenagers, with “clinical episodes” or court action increasing in the past five years.

Research by Dr Goldsworthy found that the Coast had more than 9000 drug offences in 2019-20. “This is some 35 per cent more than Cairns and 32 per cent more than Townsville, or 3000 more offences than either city,” he said.

“The Gold Coast has more high-level drug offences. It has more trafficking and supply offences than Cairns, and more production offences than Townsville.”

Police insiders confirm the more serious offences on the Coast, remarking about the links between the bikies and the border.

“The Gold Coast is bikies’ central and they are linked with the drug trade.

“We are also sitting on the border and there are suppliers from NSW,” a police source said. “We are the drug capital of Queensland, if not Australia. We have an international airport.

“A drug squad would enable covert and overt operations. They would be looking at surveillance, using the latest in technology. You would be focusing on imported drugs.”

Dr Goldsworthy dismissed suggestions that the Coast did not need its own drug squad because Brisbane officers were so close.

“The arguments that we get adequately serviced by the Brisbane drug squad are simply not accurate,” he said.

“We know geographic location is important for policing responses – that was the rationale used to move the RAP from Robina to Pacific Pines.

“Having to rely on a drug squad that is hours up the road is simply not practical. We are a major city and deserving of the policing resources that come with that.”

The rise in violent and drug-related offences among young people has sparked multiple calls for action among the community, including for a police checkpoint at Helensvale train station.

Speaking to the Bulletin in late 2019, Detective Acting Inspector Chris Tritton revealed that drug-induced psychosis cases had become one of the most frequent jobs for Gold Coast police.

He said Glitter Strip detectives were targeting mid-level drug peddlers to build intelligence on importers and drug lords.

“It’s about detecting, disrupting and identifying the real pushers,” he said.

“The people on the street who consume it will still get caught in the net, and get arrested in our operations, but at the same time, our priority is the big pushers, which requires extensive resources.”