Police have charged five people in relation to drug trafficking and dismantled a national drug syndicate after a series of search warrants in Queensland and Victoria were executed on Wednesday.
Simultaneous search warrants were executed at Inala, Oxley and Sumner in Queensland, and Cairnlea, St Albans and Hampton in Victoria, with a substantial amount of drugs and cash being located.
During the searches, conducted by the Drug and Serious Crime Group, in conjunction with officers from the Victoria Police Crime Command, detectives seized 400 cannabis plants, a quantity of cannabis, over $30,000 in cash and number of mobile phones and sim cards.
Lead by the State Crime Command's Drug and Serious Crime Group, Operation Sierra Stayer commenced in December 2019 to investigate a national organised crime group trafficking dangerous drugs across QLD, VIC and WA borders.
Throughout the operation, police seized 195kg of cannabis and 424 cannabis plants, with a combined value of approximately $2,298,650.00. Total cash seizures are over $241,000.00.
A 31-year-old Inala man was charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs and possession of a dangerous drug, he was also issued with two arrests warrants for offences relative to five cannabis grow-houses and trafficking in a dangerous drug. He appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates court yesterday.
A 38-year-old Cairnlea man and a 32-year-old St. Albans man were charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs and will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 18 September 2020.
A 29-year-old St. Albans man was charged in relation to a Victorian Arrest Warrant issued for cultivate cannabis. He will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 30 September 2020.
A 22-year-old St. Albans man was charged with cultivate and possess cannabis. He will appear in the Sunshine Magistrates Court on 2 March 2021.
Detective Superintendent Col Briggs from the Drug and Serious Crime Group said the outcomes were significant and highlighted the excellent cooperation between jurisdictions.
"This group had the capability to transport a significant amount of drugs across QLD, VIC and WA, but these arrests prove that offenders will always be caught, no matter how sophisticated they think their operations are.
"We worked closely with investigators and intelligence officers in the Western Australia Police Force and Victoria Police, sharing information and strategies capable of working across state boundaries to ensure the successful disruption of this national crime syndicate.
"The evolving COVID-19 restrictions doesn't affect the work we do, we are still actively targeting drug syndicates and organised criminal behaviour," Detective Superintendent Briggs said.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
