Queensland ice drug trade: Central mining communities targeted

THEIR working environment makes them a ready market for ice traffickers. Now they’ve become the next big thing in the state’s war on the drug scourge.

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A CRIME chain making millions selling ice to cashed-up mine workers has been dismantled after a lengthy police operation targeting the rise of the devastating drug in regional Queensland.

Operation North Frogmouth, just finalised, began 15 months ago when intelligence showed there was a growing market in central Queensland where “hi-vis’’ users were prepared to pay up to double the price.

Detective Inspector Mark Slater, of the Drug and Serious Crime Group, said that from small beginnings came larger results as a broader network was identified and investigations expanded.

The mining industry has emerged as a major market in Queensland’s ice trade.

Det Insp Slater said this included tracking down suppliers and couriers who had been channelling dangerous drugs, most likely imported from overseas, from interstate cities to Mackay and Gladstone.

He said this was done by air and road with properties on the Sunshine Coast often used as a storage point.

Those arrested as part of the operation were not directly linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

“(The) operation has led to 80 persons arrested and charged with a total of 176 offences,’’ Det Insp Slater said.

“Twenty-nine were charged with trafficking dangerous drugs and we seized a total of 7kg of ice with an estimated street value of just under $2 million.

“We also seized 2800 MDMA (ecstasy) tablets, $400,000 in cash and a quantity of cocaine, cannabis, steroids and prescription drugs, along with firearms, a Taser, four vehicles, phones and computer tablets.’’

The port town of Gladstone is a focus of our ice busters.

Many of the arrests were made through intercepts, three at commercial airports and others on the road. One courier was picked up walking through Brisbane Airport with 1kg of ice strapped to his body.

The operation involved a taskforce of 12 detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug and Serious Crime Group with support from the Crime and Corruption Commission and detectives from Sunshine Coast, Mackay and Gladstone CIBs.

The Sunday Mail understands highly addictive ice – the most potent form of the stimulant methamphetamine – sells for about $4500 for 28g (an ounce) in Brisbane and almost doubles in cost to between $7000 and $8500 for that amount in Mackay.

It is usually sold in “points’’ (0.1g) because it is so strong that only a tiny bit is used at a time. Side effects include feeling dependent on the drug, depression, sleep disturbances, weight loss and psychosis.

Drugs, cash and a firearm were seized as part of a police operation targeting ice in central Queensland.

Drug and Serious Crime Group Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker said those involved in the criminal network had been making huge profits due to the high income of those involved in the mining industry.

Det Supt Wacker said the operation had made significant seizures, but there was a long way to go in stamping out the state’s ice epidemic.

“This is something that ruins people’s lives and those responsible are living well above their means on the proceeds … living off the grief of others,’’ he said.

“We can’t beat this ice epidemic without community assistance and encourage anyone to notify us if they see anything suspicious.’’

Central Queensland and its high-paid mining workers who party hard are a rife environment for ice use.

A workplace health and safety source said workers “coming down’’ from ice or other drugs were a major concern in the mining industry.

He said high disposable incomes, younger workers and a binge party culture after working for a week or two straight was a dangerous mix.

“Ice only stays in your system for 72 hours, so they can smoke it on their first night off, flush out over the next few days and pass a urine test when they arrive at back work (after a week off),” he said.

“This makes it less likely to be picked up than cannabis, which stays in the system longer, but more likely to cause trouble in the workplace when workers crash.”

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Detective Inspector Mark Slater of Drug and Serious Crime Group.