OIC Major and Organised Crime Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Andrews ‘laser focus’ on arresting ice suppliers

As ice tightens its insidious grip on the Far Northern community, a senior Cairns police officer said his squad has a “laser focus” on meth suppliers and traffickers and is working to eradicate them.

Cairns police have vowed to target ice dealers as the drug ravages the city and 99 per cent of their work is taken up by it.

While the latest police statistics show declining drug use trends from April to June this year in Queensland and nationally, ice (methylamphetamine) was an exception, increasing back towards pre-Covid levels.

According to police, healthcare experts and community groups, the recent surge of ice use among Queenslanders has contributed to a significant number of hospitalisations.

The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service said its emergency departments had 13 ice related emergency presentations in 2022-23 financial year to date and 22 in the 2021-2022 year.

But those working in law, justice and healthcare said the actual numbers were much higher, as addicts may cause presentations such as stabbings or even death.

Far North Major and Organised Crime Squad Officer in Charge Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Andrews said his team spend the majority of their time investigating ice trafficking and supply cases and work closely with state and federal agencies, Picture: Alison Paterson

Officer in Charge Major and Organised Crime Squad Far Northern, Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Andrews, said they had a “laser focus” on arresting ice suppliers and traffickers.

“We spend 99 per cent of our work on arresting ice traffickers and suppliers,” he said.

“Unfortunately, because it’s so addictive, the demand will always be there.

“Our team of detectives is dedicated to protecting the community. We arrest many and they go to jail but unfortunately demand means another pops up to take their place.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Andrews said ice was addictive and ruined lives.

“One young woman is in jail for armed robbery six months after she used ice for the first time because she ran into debt with her supplier,” he said.

“Ice addicts are victims too.”

He said ice-fuelled property and youth crime and was responsible for a huge amount of domestic and other violent crimes.

Australian Anti Ice Campaign executive assistant Glenn Ivers said no-one can have a hit and not be affected.

“We expose ice for what it really is,” he said.

“It’s an insidiously poisonous chemical concoction that eventually, and often rapidly, destroys the physical and mental health of almost everyone who uses it.”

Statistics from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s (ACIC) National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program show meth consumption has increased by 46.5 per cent from its report during the height of Covid-19 between April and August, 2020.

Originally published as OIC Major and Organised Crime Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Andrews ‘laser focus’ on arresting ice suppliers