Mapped: Biggest South Australian drugs busts so far in 2024 unveiled
From million-dollar coke hauls to bushland discoveries, suburban streets have housed the underbelly of SA’s suspected illicit drug trade. Search your suburb.
Police & Courts
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An almost record-breaking coke haul and huge stashes of weed and meth are among the more than 20 drug busts in South Australia so far this year.
Detective David Huddy, acting officer in charge of SA Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Branch said “cannabis followed by methamphetamine” were the most common drugs seized in the first four months of 2024.
He said the three biggest busts were 50kg of cannabis uncovered in Salisbury South, more than 400 cannabis plants discovered in Bowman and 6kg of methamphetamine and 4000 tablets of suspected MDMA found in Tailem Bend.
The state’s second largest cocaine bust in history was cracked by the Australian Federal Police with an estimated street value of $45m.
With meth use on the rise, Detective Huddy warned “continuing high levels of methamphetamine consumption across South Australia” was the police’s biggest concern when it came to drug trafficking.
SEE THE MAP FOR WHERE THE COPS HAVE UNCOVERED THE DRUGS
Adelaide
A search of a hotel in Adelaide’s CBD led to the discovery of a huge stash of drugs, cash and weapons on March 27, police allege.
Authorities searched the two hotel rooms after a disturbance complaint and found a trafficable amount of methamphetamine, prescription drugs, drug paraphernalia, among other illegal items.
In another unrelated incident the week before, police allegedly found a quantity of white powder believed to be cocaine and MDMA pills after searching a group on an Adelaide street at around 3am on a Friday morning.
Newton, Campbelltown, Gepps Cross and Klemzig
On March 8, detectives from the Serious and Organised Crime Branch and STAR Group officers stormed into four properties across Adelaide where they discovered a series of drugs and drug-making equipment.
Police found and seized a large commercial sized clandestine drug laboratory at a Newton home and precursor chemicals and equipment used in clandestine drug laboratories inside two properties at Campbelltown and others at a Klemzig and Gepps Cross.
About 60g of methamphetamine was also found at one of the properties.
Bowmans
On March 19, officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Branch searched a Bowmans house where they allegedly found 400 cannabis plants growing outside in an elaborate set-up.
Coorong
Almost 100 marijuana plants up to 3m high were seized from remote bushland across the Coorong close to the beach near Salt Creek on February 13.
In February, the Drug and Organised Crime Task Force, Water Operations Unit and National Parks and Wildlife teamed up to search the Crown Land.
The search uncovered 98 cannabis plants at three growing sites which authorities claimed had caused “considerable damage” to the natural vegetation by clearing space for the crops and negatively impacted the biodiversity of the area.
Elizabeth North
About 325 cannabis plants were allegedly uncovered inside an elaborate hydronic set-up at an Elizabeth North home on January 29.
Technicians from the office of the technical regulator raised the alarm after they discovered a large amount of electricity was being used at the property.
Gawler West
Cannabis was allegedly found at a Gawler West home after police searched the property in April.
Officers allege they found six large plants and an amount of dried cannabis.
Hilton
Police discovered 1.6kg of methamphetamine inside Hilton home in February.
Kidman Park
When police spotted Mercedes Benz in a Kidman Park driveway in March it was soon discovered it was allegedly stolen from Victoria.
They then searched the house and allegedly recovered suspected GHB and methamphetamine, among other items.
Loxton
On March 25, 15 cannabis plants, a huge stash of dried cannabis and drug paraphernalia were found in five different areas of a Loxton home, police allege.
The dried cannabis and drug paraphernalia were stashed in a workshop area inside the house.
Mansfield Park
In what has been dubbed as the state’s second largest cocaine bust in history, SA Police discovered 139kg of cocaine hidden inside four luxury buses, while they were on a ship heading to SA.
On January 28 Australian Border Force officers intercepted a ship travelling from Singapore to Fremantle after receiving a tip off about a transnational criminal syndicate.
To stop the drugs from making it onto our streets, police swapped the real drugs with a fake substance, in an attempt to catch the dealers.
They then tracked the drug packages as they were unloaded in Adelaide – still on the buses – and delivered to a Mansfield Park car park in February.
The fake drugs were collected from the car park and transferred to a Port Adelaide hotel room, where ADF and SA Police officers made the bust.
ADF officers said the drugs had an estimated street value of $45m.
Maslin Beach
In March police stopped a Ford Laser on Maslin Beach Rd, after checks revealed the car was unregistered and uninsured.
After searching the car, police found a homemade baton and a quantity of drugs.
Modbury North
Serious and Organised Crime Branch officers uncovered the massive haul of drugs and cash at a Modbury North home in April.
Around 520g of cocaine wrapped in black plastic, 130g of methamphetamine, 100 MDMA tablets and over $100,000 worth of cash was seized.
Moonta Bay
After a secret tip-off Kadina Police searched a Moonta Bay house in March and allegedly found six cannabis plants and a small stash of dried cannabis in an outside area.
Murray Bridge
On March 24, corrections officers from Mobilong Prison alerted police to a visitor who they believed was in possession of illicit drugs.
After an investigation, police allegedly found capsules and pills believed to be drugs.
In an unrelated incident later that afternoon, officers reported to police that substances believed to be illicit drugs and a glass pipe were found in a car.
Northfield and Yatala Prison
In April, a visitor was arrested after allegedly attempting to smuggle drug paraphernalia – along with other illegal items – into Yatala Prison.
Police corrections team along with the Department for Correctional Services conducted a search.
The visitor was found inside the prison buffer zone with items including an ice pipe, four grams of suspected methamphetamine, $5500 in cash and packages containing 59 suboxone stripes.
Police also raided a Northfield home and seized 70 more suboxone strips, mobile phones, cannabis, a quantity of suspected methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia.
Salisbury South
Police discovered a sophisticated drug operation after searching a warehouse in Salisbury South in January.
At the warehouse, 14 large cannabis plants, along with 50kg of dried cannabis packaged and ready for distribution were allegedly located by police.
Tailem Bend
A random traffic stop led to the discovery of one of the biggest busts of 2024 so far.
Serious and Organised Crime Branch officers stopped a driver after a tip off about drug trafficking on a Thursday morning in January.
They allegedly uncovered 3kg of methamphetamine, 14g of cocaine and 4000 tablets of suspected ecstasy.
Tea Tree Gully
STAR Group officers and detectives stormed a Tea Tree Gully home in February 29 and allegedly found drugs, cash and weapons inside.
Police allege 35g of methamphetamine was found on the kitchen table and about 350ml of GBH was found inside a motor vehicle.
Riverland
Police swooped in on five properties in the Riverland over a four-day period in February leading to serval drug related arrests.
Officers from the Waikerie and Blanchetown stations searched the properties after receiving a tip-off from the public.
One hundred and fifteen cannabis plants, 1kg of dried cannabis and 50g of methamphetamine, among other illegal weapons and a stolen motorcycle, were seized by officers.
Renmark
In February, police raided a Renmark property and found a stash of illegal items and drugs.
Police allege that 12g of a substance believed to be methamphetamine, paraphernalia related to drugs and drug dealing were found during the raid.
West Lakes
In January, police allegedly found a hydroponic set-up with 11 large cannabis plants being grown in the garage of a West Lakes home after searching the house from a tip-off.
Wingfield
SA Police Heavy Vehicle Enforcement Unit officers were patrolling the Port River Expressway at Wingfield in January, when a driver who was travelling at speed, overtook them.
The driver who was on the wrong side of the road, was allegedly driving erratically, which prompted a pursuit by officers.
Police eventually stopped the driver, who allegedly tested positive to methamphetamine.
A further search of the car uncovered about 20g of methamphetamine, along with other prohibited items.
Police also searched the driver’s home and allegedly found 60g of methamphetamine and 80g of fantasy.
Whyalla Norrie
Police found two large cannabis plants and 2.2ks of dried cannabis, being grown out the back of a Whyalla Norrie home after conducting a search in March.
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