Police drug op nabs 1.6kg of meth and 18 people on 64 charges in Rockhampton

More than 1.5kg of meth was seized from a storage shed in Norman Gardens as 64 charges have been handed down following a five-month long police operation. See the names of some of those charged.

Rockhampton detectives believe they have taken down “significant” dangerous drug suppliers in the region after 18 people were arrested on 64 charges in an operation that nabbed more than 1.5kg in methylamphetamine worth up to $1 million.

A total of 1.6kg of methylamphetamine was seized from a storage shed in Norman Gardens as, which is estimated to have a street value of between $750,000 to $1 million, and $117,180 in cash, during Operation Victor Cope.

The “protracted drug operation” by the Rockhampton Criminal Investigation Branch which targeted the “unlawful supply of dangerous drugs, specifically methylamphetamine, in the Rockhampton and Gracemere areas” is expected to see more charges laid.

Acting Officer in Charge Rockhampton Criminal Investigation Branch, Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Kevin Mawdsley said it was a “lengthy process” with a “dedicated group of investigators”.

“We are confident these people were significant in this area in terms of distribution of dangerous drugs,” he said.

1.2kg of meth was seized from the Norman Gardens storage shed.

A 30-year-old Gracemere woman, Jackelyn Johnston, and a 36-year-old Gracemere man were charged in relation to this.

“The people who deal in this type of product unlawfully charge various prices and it depends on a whole range of circumstances,” Det Mawdsley said.

Replica firearms and a gel blaster were found in the Norman Gardens storage shed.

Search warrants were carried out in Gracemere and Park Avenue, along with the Norman Gardens shed, on September 7.

Other charges from the operation include two persons for drug trafficking and 18 charges among various persons for possessing dangerous drugs.

“Part of these operations involve looking into all aspects of the supply of dangerous drugs, not only what happens at street level but also how drugs come to be in Rockhampton in the first place,” Det Mawdsley said.

“Investigations believe dangerous drugs weren’t being produced in Rockhampton, it was being brought into the area via various means.”

More charges are still expected as police continue to investigate the “full extent” of everyone’s involvement, Det Mawdsley said.

“The seizure of drugs here in Rockhampton and other parts of the state was significant in terms of what we see here in Rockhampton and also the cash, over $100,000 … For such a relatively short operation, somewhat significant for this region,” he said.

A total of $101,750 was seized when detectives tracked a woman from Rockhampton to Roma Street Station in Brisbane where she was intercepted by the Railway Squad on July 28.

Just because one operation has closed, Det Mawdsley assured it would not be their last.

“We aren’t ignorant to the fact someone else is going to step up in their absence now,” he said.

“Unfortunately there is always going to be a demand for unlawful dangerous drugs.”

Members of the public are encouraged to report anything suspicious to police, as all information helps, Det Mawdsley said.

“If we don’t get assistance from people in the community, these sorts of operations don’t commence, and we don’t get the results we have,” he said.

“We are always open for more information to come from members of the public, it might be someone we don’t know who is engaging in this type of activity, Crimestoppers you can remain anonymous, Policelink or attend your local police station.”

CHARGES

Rockhampton man Tony Leonard Rice, 39, has also been charged in relation to the operation. He was charged on September 4 with possession of methylamphetamine exceeding schedule 3 (major possession) and has been held in remand. He will next appear on September 27.

A 43-year-old Burleigh Heads woman has been issued a notice to appear on one count of possess tainted property. She is expected to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on 26 October 2023.

A 30-year-old Gracemere woman has been charged with two counts of unlawful possession of weapons (knuckle duster and a taser), one count of drug trafficking, three counts of possessing dangerous drugs (methylamphetamine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and one count each of possess tainted property and possession of property suspected of being acquired with proceeds of an offence. She is expected to reappear at Rockhampton Magistrates Court on November 15.

A 36-year-old Gracemere man has been charged with four counts of possessing dangerous drugs (methylamphetamine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine), and one count each of possessing anything for use in the commission of crime, possess tainted property, and contravening order about information. He is expected to reappear at Rockhampton Magistrates Court on November 15.

A 43-year-old Park Avenue man was charged with one count of drug trafficking, three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and one count each of possessing utensils or pipes, possessing anything used in the commission of crime and possess tainted property. He was expected to reappear at Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Monday, September 11.

A 41-year-old man from The Range has been issued a notice to appear on one count of possess utensils. He is expected to appear at Rockhampton Magistrates Court on September 27.

A 40-year-old Gracemere woman has been issued a notice to appear on one count of possess utensils. She is expected to appear at Rockhampton Magistrates Court on September 27.

A 38-year-old Berserker man has been charged with three counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count each of possess utensils or pipes and possess tainted property.

A 29-year-old Rockhampton City man was charged with one count of possessing dangerous drugs. The matter was finalised at Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 26.

A 40-year-old Berserker man was charged with one count of possess dangerous drug. The matter was finalised at Rockhampton Magistrates Court on August 7.

A 37-year-old Kawana woman has been charged with one count each of possessing dangerous drugs and obstruct police. She is expected to reappear at Rockhampton Magistrates Court on October 5.

A 51-year-old Logan man has been charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count each of unlawful possession of weapons.