’Zero tolerance’: Drug dealers beware, the police aren’t letting up

Drug dealers behind a crime underbelly in a quiet Brisbane bayside suburb have been busted by police in huge numbers with a 40 per cent surge in charges in the area.

DRUG dealers behind the crime underbelly in a quiet Brisbane pocket — beware, the police aren’t letting up.

Operations from different units of the Queensland Police are proving successful in curbing a drug problem in the Wynnum Manly area after a 40 per cent increase in charges in relation to narcotics in the bayside district.

According to new MyPolice data, there were 76 offences in Wynnum in March, a time when COVID-19 restrictions were in full effect, compared to just 55 in February with the most popular drugs seized in busts being methylamphetamines and cannabis.

Methylamphetamines are among the most common drugs found during busts on Brisbane’s bayside.

The numbers follow on from Wynnum West and Wynnum last year being named in the top 15 Brisbane suburbs for drug offences over the past two years and also after police identified a pocket featuring several Department of Housing properties as a hotspot for drug activity.

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Wynnum Police senior sergeant Wayne Richter said the rise in charges meant drug operations carried out by officers from the Capalaba Tactical Crime Squad, Cleveland CIB and Wynnum Police were successful.

Wynnum Police senior sergeant Wayne Richter warns drug dealers of their “zero tolerance” when it comes to drugs. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

“Whilst there appears to be an increase in arrests for drug related offences for the area for the last month, these are always ongoing operations that are carried out periodically and when they are concluded they produce the perceived increase in crime,” he said.

“Over a longer six month period, the rates are actually similar to what they were the previous year.

“Wynnum Police continually focus on the disruption of drug related crimes in the Wynnum Manly area and even during this COVID-19 crisis will show a zero tolerance for this type of behaviour.”