“In Australia, Queensland seems to be the base of (amphetamine) clandestine manufacturing, which supplies the whole country,” the report said.
Outlaw motorcycle gangs are strategically located throughout the North Coast region and the Sunshine Coast for very specific purposes, one of which would be the distribution of amphetamines,” Supt Hanbidge said.
“It’s for this reason that Sunshine Coast police and police throughout the north coast region have commenced an ongoing target of enforcement against outlaw motorcycle gangs.”But he said illicit drug use was a problem everywhere, not just on the Sunshine Coast.“We’ve certainly seen an increase in the number of arrests for drug-related matters but it’s probably more so because of increased enforcement carried out by police, rather than increased drug use,” Supt Hanbidge said.
“But certainly with the use of drugs such as ecstasy there seems to be a mindset amongst young people that this form of drug is not as harmful as others, which is totally incorrect.“The fact remains that it is an extremely dangerous drug with lethal consequences.”Yesterday, detectives from the North Coast Region and State Crime Operations Command in partnership with the Australian Crime Commission arrested 16 people as part of a major police investigation targeting illicit drug supply on the Sunshine Coast.
Seventy police officers were involved in Operation Echo Coma which involved the execution of 22 search warrants on the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Ormeau.
Police seized more than $24,000 in cash suspected of being proceeds of crime as well as a range of illicit drugs including MDMA tablets (ecstasy), methylamphetamine, cannabis and steroids with a street value of approximately $50,000.
A concealable firearm and ammunition were also seized.Police laid 37 criminal charges including supply of a dangerous drug, possession of a dangerous drug (exceeding scheduled amounts), possession of an unlicensed concealable firearm and possession of money suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
Detective Inspector Marty Mickelson from the State Drug Investigation Unit said the operation focused on a number of people suspected by police of being involved or associated with the sale and supply of illicit drugs on the Sunshine Coast.
“This is the second major police operation targeting drugs on the Coast in as many weeks,” Detective Inspector Mickelson said.“Our activities here today, combined with the ongoing efforts by local police, send a clear message to people involved in the drug scene here on the coast that their activities are constantly being monitored and it is only a matter of time until they get caught up in one of our ongoing operations,” he said.Detective Acting Superintendent John Maloney, North Coast Regional Crime Coordinator, is encouraging members of the public to keep reporting these sorts of illegal activities to police.“Once again, valuable information from the community has played a significant part in assisting police in identifying those people involved in the supply and use of illicit drugs here on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.A number of those arrested appeared in the Maroochydore and Beenleigh Magistrates Courts yesterday with the remaining people issued with notices to appear in court at Maroochydore at a later date.Just last month 43 people were charged after a series of raids on the coast netted over $100,000 worth of drugs including ecstasy, cocaine and LSD.One of the sheds raided at Kuluin was believed to be owned by the Rebels Motorcycle gang.
The report from the UN drug watchdog, International Narcotics Control Board, found amphetamine and marijuana use in Australia was among the highest in the world.