Police road search brings $ 2m ice haul
A TRAFFIC stop in Charters Towers led police to a drug stash valued at $ 2 million, putting a major dent in the Townsville drug trade.
Townsville Tactical Crime Squad officers were patrolling Charters Towers on Saturday night and stopped a 2015 Toyota Landcruiser on the Gregory Development Rd just south of the town about 10.45pm.
While officers were speaking with the male driver, they began to suspect that he had drugs in the vehicle.
Townsville Tactical Crime Squad officer- in- charge Senior Sergeant Jason Shepherd said the officers searched the car and allegedly found 2kg of ice with an estimated street value of $ 2 million.
Two packages of drugs were allegedly found under food inside a camping fridge.
Sen- Sgt Shepherd said police believed the drugs were bound for Townsville.
“We regard it as a significant disruption to the drugs trade in Townsville,” he said.
The stash translates to about 20,000 “hits” for drug users, who would pay on average $ 100 for each deal.
Sen- Sgt Shepherd describeds the bust as significant anda said the investigation had beenb handed to the Major and Organised Crime Squad in Townsville.
It is alleged that police foundf more drugs at the man’s Charters Towers residence, along with two glass pipes and almost $ 12,000 in cash.
Sen- Sgt Shepherd said it appeared the drugs were not manufactured in Charters Towers and were part of a larger operation.
He said there was no indication the alleged offender was linked to bikie gangs.
A 38- year- old man has been charged with six drug- related offences, including trafficking a dangerous drug.
Sen- Sgt Shepherd said criminals historically used rural roads to transport drugs to Queensland.
“They hope that they can escape a lot of the attention you get on the highway,” he said.
He said Townsville officers provided support to rural areas such as Charters Towers as part of its policing role.
Sen- Sgt Shepherd said ice was a major problem in Townsville.