Mackay police arrest 58 people on 293 offences after drug raids

A young man charged with peddling cocaine and meth has been sent back to prison after a Mackay police blitz busted open alleged drug supply chains.

A young man charged with peddling cocaine and meth has been sent back to prison after a Mackay police blitz busted open alleged drug supply chains.

Reece Stuart William Hogg appeared in Mackay Magistrates Court on 15 charges.

The 21 year old was among 58 people arrested on 293 offences as part of Operation Limerick.

The court heard Mr Hogg was on a return-to-prison warrant - as a result he would be returned to custody.

He is charged with four counts of supplying dangerous drugs (cocaine, meth and marijuana), five counts of possessing dangerous drugs (meth, MDMA, marijuana, buprenorphine and alprazolam).

Mr Hogg is also charged with three counts of possessing weapons (handgun, knuckle dusters and knife) and one count each of possessing shortened firearm, cash suspected of being proceeds of a drug offence and ammunition.

He has been remanded in custody and his case will be mentioned again in May.

Police say they have cut drug supply chains in Mackay after arresting 58 people on 293 offences in a series of raids.

Police found firearms, cash, methylamphetamines and other drugs after executing search warrants at 21 properties “everywhere and anywhere” as part of Operation Limerick.

Reece Stuart William Hogg has been remanded in custody and his matters will be mentioned in court in May.

Sergeant Troy Hayward, from Mackay Tactical Crime Squad, said officers had acted on information from Crime Stoppers to execute the raids.

“Information comes from Crime Stoppers, which gives us the opportunity to move forward on these offenders and keep our communities safe and take drugs off the street,” he said.

“Crime Stoppers are very important to me and my squad in particular, in relation to targeting drug supply in Mackay.

Sgt Hayward said police took a wide range of drugs off the street – from marijuana to ice, methylamphetamine, MDMA, LSD and cocaine.

Police from the Mackay District Tactical Crime Squad have charged 58 people with more than 293 offences since February 5 as part of an operation targeting supplying dangerous drugs in Mackay. Officers executed search warrants at 21 properties as part of operation Limerick. Police located firearms, cash, methylamphetamine and other drugs during the searches. Picture: Queensland Police Service

“We have charged a couple of people with major possession of a dangerous drug,” he said when asked about cocaine.

Sgt Hayward said officers targeted individuals but they would sometimes be linked in networks.

He said he hoped police had cut drug supply chains across Mackay.

“I’d like to think so, but we take one away there’s always another one comes in,” he said.

Sgt Hayward said they picked up more than $12,000 in cash and a haul of weapons from a range of inoperable replicas to fireable shorn off .22 long arms.

He said police also found handguns, knuckle dusters, knives and other weapons.

Sgt Hayward said officers also found weapons that resembled glocks which was quite concerning for police because they looked so real.

A 21-year-old Mackay man has been charged with four counts of supplying dangerous drug (cocaine, methylamphetamine and marijuana x 2), five counts of possession of dangerous drug (methylamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, cannabis, buprenorphine and alprazolam) three counts of possessing weapons (handgun, knuckle dusters and knife) and one count each of possession of shortened firearm, possession of property suspected of been proceeds of offence under Drugs Misuse Act (cash), and possession of explosives (ammunition). He appeared in Mackay Magistrates Court today.

A 24-year-old North Mackay man has been charged with four counts of supplying a dangerous drug (marijuana x 2, methylamphetamine x 2), possession of anything used in the commission of a crime (mobile phone). He will appear in Mackay Magistrates Court on April 12.

A 33-year-old West Mackay man has been charged with one count each of producing dangerous drugs (marijuana), supply dangerous drug (methylamphetamine), possession of dangerous drug (cannabis), possession of anything used in the commission of a crime (mobile phone), possession of utensil (scales) and possession of explosives (ammunition). He will reappear Mackay Magistrates Court on May 5.

A 26-year-old West Mackay woman has been charged with one count each of possession of dangerous drug (methylamphetamine) possession of property suspected of been proceeds of offence under Drugs Misuse Act (cash), possession of property for drug offence (clip seal bags and scales) and possession of drug utensil (pipe). She will appear in Mackay Magistrates Court on May 3.

A 45-year-old Beaconsfield woman has been charged with two counts of supply dangerous drug (marijuana) and one count each of possession of dangerous drug (cannabis), possession of utensil (waterpipe), possession of anything used in the commission of a crime (mobile phone). He will appear in Mackay Magistrates Court on April 11.

A 29-year-old Sarina man has been charged with one count each of possession of dangerous drugs (methylamphetamine), possession of dangerous drug (cannabis) and possession of tainted property (cash) He will reappear Mackay Magistrates Court on April 7.

A 30-year-old Andergrove man charged with possession of a dangerous drug (methylamphetamine), receiving tainted property (registration plates) and possession of tainted property (cash). He will appear in Mackay Magistrates Court on April 27.