Police swoop on prison, uncover massive drugs, weapons haul

A man and woman have been charged following a police raid on a car near a Qld prison, where a haul of drugs, weapons, cash and many other illegal items were allegedly found.

An intelligence-led operation at Maryborough Correctional Centre has allegedly taken a substantial haul of drugs, weapons and other illegal items off the streets with two people arrested in the centre car park last week.

Police have uncovered a haul of drugs, weapons and other illegal items in a raid carried out on a car parked at the Maryborough Correctional Centre.

Queensland Corrective Services’ Intelligence and Dog Squad officers carried out an intelligence-based, targeted search of the car in the prison’s visitor car park earlier this month and allegedly found multiple prohibited items, including two homemade firearms, a machete and axe, large quantities of cash, multiple licence plates, illicit substances, prescription medication and other drug paraphernalia.

A 24-year-old man and 20-year-old woman were arrested by police and charged with various offences, including unlawful possession of a weapon, receiving tainted property, possessing dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of suspected stolen property, possessing a knife in public, possess explosives, possessing property suspected of having been used in a drug offence and other offences.

An intelligence-led operation at Maryborough Correctional Centre has allegedly uncovered a substantial haul of drugs, weapons and other illegal items with two people arrested in the centre car park last week.

Both are due to appear in court next month.

Maryborough Correctional Centre general manager John Owens praised the work of QCS intelligence officers, the Dog Squad and Queensland police.

“On behalf of the wider community, we are very grateful for the commitment and expertise of our intelligence officers to raise the alert and, alongside our highly skilled QCS Dog Squad unit, to professionally manage this incident and work with our QPS colleagues to bring it to a successful outcome,” Chief Supt Owens said.

Maryborough Correctional Centre.

“The QCS Intel teams are the unseen eyes and ears of our centres, but they are also committed to following the intelligence to make the communities where we live and work safer for all Queenslanders.

“Contraband has no place anywhere near our facilities, including in our car parks, and we are glad to have helped QPS get these items off the streets.”

Wide Bay CIB Senior Sergeant Steve Watts said the arrest was a timely reminder.

“This arrest should send a strong message to those in the community who are considering criminal activities in the vicinity of correctional facilities, that they will be discovered and held to account,” he said.