Nine people in their 50s, 60s charged over alleged drug trafficking on Gold Coast
A group of men and women aged in their 50s and 60s will face court over the alleged trafficking of heroin, methadone and cannabis after raids across the Gold Coast.
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Nine people have been arrested on 50 charges after a two-month drug operation targeting the alleged trafficking of heroin, methadone and cannabis.
Police allege the “ringleader” behind the operation is a 51-year-old Miami woman and say more arrests are expected in the coming days.
The Gold Coast District Criminal Investigation branch launched Operation Uniform Beads in June following intelligence received. It led to three police raids on Tuesday.
It will be alleged at a residence on Burleigh St, Burleigh Waters, detectives uncovered 126 grams of heroin, 624 grams of cannabis, 12 bottles of methadone, $30,000 cash, mobile phones, tick sheets and multiple drug utensils.
At a unit on the Gold Coast Highway, Miami, detectives allegedly found about three grams of heroin, 2.4 grams of cannabis, electric scales, $480 cash and a contact booklet.
Detectives allegedly found six grams of heroin, $850 cash, tick sheets, a mobile phone and a box of suboxone, a type of medication to treat opiod use, following a search of a Ford Falcon utility.
The nine people arrested included two Burleigh Waters men in their 50s charged with three counts of drug trafficking and other offences.
A Coolangatta man, a Currumbin Waters man, a Varsity Lakes man, and a Miami woman - all in their 50s, were each charged with three counts of drug trafficking and other offences.
All six are due to appear at the Southport Magistrates Court on August 17.
A 60-year-old Miami man was charged with three counts of drug trafficking and one count of possessing anything used in the commission of a crime.
He is due to appear at the Southport Magistrates Court on August 18.
A 51-year-old Miami woman, who police allege is the “ringleader” behind the operation, was charged with three counts of drug trafficking and a number of other charges.
A 61-year-old East Lismore man has been charged with three counts of drug trafficking and a string of other charges.
Both are due to reappear at the Southport Magistrates Court on September 13.
Police expect more arrests to occur over the coming days and Detective Acting Inspector Luke Flood said the operation would continue.
“The quantity (of heroin) seized on this occasion was surprising to the investigators,” he said.
“ I do predict more arrests over the coming days.
“We seized ledgers, mobile phones, tick sheets and things of those nature.
“They’re yet to be examined and once we do that further I’d imagine further offences will fall out of that.”
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Originally published as Nine people in their 50s, 60s charged over alleged drug trafficking on Gold Coast
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