Gladstone police arrest 29 people on 81 charges in Operation Reacher
Police have seized more than half a million dollars' worth of drugs from the streets in sweeping raids across a major two-day operation. VIDEO, DETAILS.
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Police have removed more than half a million dollars' worth of drugs from Central Queensland streets in a major two-day operation that netted 29 people on 81 charges.
Gladstone police busted their way into multiple homes in planned, sweeping raids across the Gladstone area aimed at disrupting drug crime in the region.
Officers seized more than $500,000 of meth, MDMA, marijuana and LSD as they executed 26 warrants as part of Operation Reacher.
As a result, 29 people were charged with 81 offences including supplying and possessing dangerous drugs, weapons or explosives, stealing, serious assault and more.
As well as the large amount of drugs, police also seized ammunition, stolen property and cash, with sniffer dogs also used in the operation.
Speaking to reporters in Rockhampton on Thursday, Detective Inspector Luke Peachey said police were pleased that the drugs had been seized and were out of the hands of vulnerable people.
“What [the drug seizures] show is that there are still people out there trying to make a living out of distributing dangerous drugs … we will be out there detecting them and bringing them to prosecution,” he said.
“It is very pleasing that those drugs are off the street and not in the hands of some poor youth who is injecting it up his arm or smoking it in a pipe.”
Detective Inspector Luke Peachey also said in an earlier statement the operation had brought significant charges.
“Operation Reacher has seen detectives target and remove a significant number of drugs from our streets,” Detective Inspector Peachey said.
“Illicit drugs have no place in our community, and we remain committed to getting these dangerous drugs off our streets.
“We ask the public to continue assisting us with any information regarding drug supply in their areas to come forward.”
A 43-year-old Gladstone City man was charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and one count each of possessing utensils, possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, unlawful possession of weapons, and assault of a police officer. He will appear in Gladstone Magistrates Court on February 10.
A 37-year-old Kirkwood man has been charged with possessing dangerous drugs, possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence under the Drugs Misuse Act, unlawful possession of weapons, and receiving tainted property. He will appear in Gladstone Magistrates Court on February 17.
A 38-year-old Clinton man was charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and one count of possessing utensils and contravening order. He will appear in Gladstone Magistrates Court on March 11.
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