Cops RAPt in major drugs, cash seizure
A MASSIVE haul of ice, a white substance thought to be cocaine and thousands of dollars in cash have been uncovered in a raid on a Gold Coast home.
Police were on the hunt for a high-risk offender when they raided a home at Oxenford, allegedly uncovering 660g of methamphetamine, 1.1kg of white powder and $25,000 in cash, which will be alleged was a proceed of drug crime.
Police said the ice on its own had a street value of about $400,000, with the seizure taking nearly 6600 hits of the drug off the street.
Testing of the powder that could be cocaine would be done in the coming days.
A 37-year-old Oxenford man was arrested and charged with a range of drugrelated offences including drug trafficking, supply and possession. He is expected to front Southport Magistrates Court this morning.
Officers from the Rapid Action Patrol group (RAP) led the raid, with detectives from the Major and Organised Crime Squad and the Gold Coast Criminal Investigations Branch assisting in the arrest and charges.
Officer in charge of RAP, Senior Sergeant Andrew Frick said the haul and the arrest would have an immediate effect on the drug market on the Gold Coast.
“The seizure takes a potential 6600 individual hits of the drug from the streets, significantly decreasing the amount of drug-related offences committed by users,” Sen-Sgt Frick said. “These are exactly the drugs that are affecting our young people here on the Coast.
“This just shows the good work being done by the frontline services to minimise the harm these drugs are doing on our streets. It’s a great example of how well we are working across the Coast in a unified approach to tackling drug crime.
“The RAP continues to focus on high-risk offenders, illicit drug use and the targeting of property crime. “The RAP is a vital contributor in first response policing on the Gold Coast and forms part of the 1000-plus police officers resolute in keeping the Gold Coast community safe.”
Sen-Sgt Frick said RAP was still focusing on drug and organised crime, but had now shifted into looking at highrisk offenders not associated with an outlaw gang.
“The RAP is maintaining all the priorities of the last few years but now maturing and expanding our reach … into all things crime and to try to minimise harm in the community.”