The State Flying Squad (SFS) has just completed its latest deployment to the Far North, resulting in 15 people being charged with 40 offences.
During the deployment, SFS officers worked alongside local police and other specialist units including the dog squad, to execute six search warrants during the week-long deployment, resulting in large quantities of illicit drugs being located and multiple people being charged.
Officers from the State Flying Squad and local police executed a series of search warrants on a Manunda property on 24 April and a Brinsmead residence and associated vehicles on 26 April, resulting in a 51-year-old Brinsmead man and a 19-year-old Brinsmead woman being charged with multiple drug-related offences.
While executing the warrant in Brinsmead, police allegedly found over 57g of cocaine worth an estimated $15,000 $20,000, and over $1200 in cash.
During the Manunda search, police allegedly located 33 cannabis plants weighing over 50kg, as well as almost 2kg of packaged material and hydroponic grow equipment.
The 19-year-old woman was charged with 12 counts of supply dangerous drugs (cannabis, MDMA, LSD), two counts of possess things, and one count each of possess utensils, possess dangerous drugs S1 exceeding S4, possess property proceeds of crime.
She was remanded in custody and will next appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on 23 June.
The 51-year-old Brinsmead man was charged with one count each of producing dangerous drugs and possessing anything used in the commission of a crime.
He is expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on 25 May.
SFS officers also executed a search warrant at a Cairns North address and allegedly located and seized
methylamphetamine, cannabis, utensils, property suspected of being stolen and a phone believed to be used in supplying drugs.
A 44-year-old Cairns North woman was charged with two counts of supplying dangerous drugs and one count each of possess dangerous drugs (methylamphetamine), possess dangerous drugs (cannabis), use things suspected of being used (phone), possess tainted property and possess utensils.
She will appear next in Cairns Magistrates Court on 11 May.
Police also executed search warrants at Redlynch and Smithfield properties on 27 April, allegedly locating a hydroponics setup, cannabis plants, utensils and insecure firearms.
A 44-year-old Smithfield man was charged with three counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count each of producing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used, possessing utensils, contravention of a weapons licence condition and storage of weapons.
He was remanded in custody and will appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on 15 May.
Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said removing offenders of this nature greatly benefits the Far Northern region.
"Removing large quantities of illicit drugs from our streets reduces harm and helps prevent further crime occurring in our community," Detective Inspector Goan said.
""As police we see firsthand that people who sell, use or are addicted to drugs often commit offences outside pure drug offending, such as violence, property crime, drug driving and domestic violence, either while affected by the drug or in seeking funds to purchase it."
"We greatly appreciate the ongoing deployments from the State Flying Squad, to support the already outstanding work our local police do to disrupt and prevent offending."
Detective Inspector Joe Nixon said the State Flying Squad provides extra boots on the ground to boost policing efforts and increase police visibility in the region.
"This deployment provided an investigative surge capacity, giving local police extra ability to execute proactive and reactive operations to enhance community safety," Detective Inspector Nixon said.
"The Squad will continue to deploy across Queensland as needs, to enhance policing capability and help
Queenslanders feel safer."
Vision timestamps:
0:00 Manunda search warrant - locating cannabis plants and grow equipment
0:51 Brinsmead search warrant - locating cocaine, cash
1:21 Cairns North search warrant - suspected stolen property, methylamphetamine
1:44 still images from Manunda search warrant
