MAJOR BUST: Police raid Yeppoon home and allegedly find 1kg+ of meth
Named: Men accused of escaping Covid lockdown allegedly busted with 1kg+ of meth and loaded gun with silencer in major police operation.
Rockhampton
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Police have allegedly uncovered a staggering amount of drugs, as well as weapons, in their first bust as part of Operation Tango Negative.
Detective Senior Sergeant Luke Peachey said police searched a Serengeti Court residence in Yeppoon on August 5.
They allegedly found more than 1kg of crystalline substance which is believed to meth with a predicted street value of $500,000 to $1 million, about $1800 of cash, explosives (ammunition), a loaded Colt 45 calibre handgun with a silencer, a 22 magazine, and other items of interest.
Yeppoon man Stephen Gary Crisp, 37, has been charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, one count each of possessing dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of restricted drugs, possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence, possession of a knife in a public place and other drug and weapon-related offences.
Gold Coast man Nathanael John Prange, 40, was also charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possessing dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of a restricted drug, possession of a knife in a public place and other drug and weapon-related offences.
They’ve also been charged with failure to comply with COVID-19 direction, among other offences.
Police have refused them bail and they will have their first mention in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on August 6.
Police will allege the pair travelled from locked-down Brisbane to Yeppoon on August 5.
Detective Senior Sergeant Peachey said it was rare and concerning to (allegedly) find a handgun and silencer in the property.
“Concerning, is the fact that when police did enter the residence, the firearm was located in the kitchen on a benchtop and it was located loaded,” he alleged)
“Very concerning for the public safety and the safety of those officers entering.”
It will be alleged that items were found all over the property including in freezers, where some of the drugs were reportedly found.
“Our investigation has been very thorough in what we’ve done so far,” Detective Senior Sergeant Peachey said.
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