Police boss Mark Wheeler rejects need for designated drug squad as new data shows spike in drug offences

UPDATE: The Gold Coast’s top cop has shot down suggestions the city needs its own drug squad after new stats revealed a shocking spike in drug offences.

THE Gold Coast’s police boss has quashed suggestions the Glitter Strip needs a dedicated drug squad.

Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said the district had over 1000 officers, a Major and Organised Crime Squad and 116 Criminal Investigation Branch detectives tackling drug offences.

It comes after the Bulletin revealed there were calls for the dedicated squad to be based in the city, amid a 17 per cent increase in drug offences.

“A lot of effort and a lot of planning goes into conducting drug operations already,” Supt Wheeler said when asked whether it was needed.

“Having a designated or dedicated squad tends to set up silos. My preference is that our police across the Gold Coast are all engaged in this war on drugs.

“To say that we need a dedicated squad, I’m not seeing any evidence of that at the moment.”

He said the spike in drug offences was an indication of “effort and proactive work” by officers and detectives.

Leading criminologists and police insiders say the Coast must get its own drug squad similar to other regional tourist cities like Cairns and Townsville.

Bond University criminologist Dr Terry Goldsworthy told The Bulletin: “The Gold Coast desperately needs its own dedicated drug squad, the fact that Queensland’s second-largest city does not have one is unacceptable.

“The data clearly supports the creation of a drug squad on the Gold Coast. Since 2017 we have seen a 17 per cent increase in drug offences on the Coast.

“This compares to Cairns with a 10 per cent increase and Townsville with a nine per cent increase. Both of these cities have dedicated drug squads. “

Drug crime is on the rise. Picture: iStock

Labor and the LNP are yet to commit to specific drug squad funding but law and order looms as a vote winner in the lead-up to October State election.

A report in The Bulletin reveals cannabis, alcohol and dexamphetamines are the most popular substance among Coast teenagers with “clinical episodes” or court action increasing in the past five years.

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Research by Dr Goldsworthy found the Coast had more 9000 drug offences in 2019-20.

“This is some 35 per cent more than Cairns and 32 per cent more than Townsville, or 3000 more offences than either city,” he said.

“The Gold Coast has more high level drug offences. It has more trafficking and supply offences than Cairns, and more production offences than Townsville.”

Dr Terry Goldsworthy — he has new drug research. Pic by Richard Gosling.

Police insiders confirm the more serious offences on the Coast, remarking about the links between the bikies and the border.

“The Gold Coast is bikies’ central and they are linked with the drug trade. We are also sitting on the border and there are suppliers from New South Wales,” a police source said.

“We are the drug capital of Queensland if not Australia. We have an international airport.

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“A drug squad would enable covert and overt operations. They would be looking at surveillance, using the latest in technology. You would be focusing on imported drugs.”

Dr Goldsworthy dismissed suggestions that the Coast did not need its own drug squad because Brisbane officers were so close.

Drugs and cash seized during recent raid at Coomera.

“The arguments that we get adequately serviced by the Brisbane drug squad are simply not accurate,” he said.

“We know geographic location is important for policing responses, that was the rationale used to move the RAP from Robina to Pacific Pines.

“Having to rely a drug squad that is hours up the road is simply not practical. We are a major city and are deserving of the policing resources that come with that.”

The rise in violent and drug related offences among young people has previously sparked multiple calls for action among the community, including for a police checkpoint at Helensvale train station.

Speaking to The Bulletin in late 2019, Detective Acting Inspector Chris Tritton revealed drug-induced psychosis cases had become one of the most frequent jobs for Gold Coast police.

He said Glitter Strip detectives were targeting mid-level drug peddlers to build intelligence on importers and drug lords.

“It’s about detecting, disrupting and identifying the real pushers,” he said.

“The people on the street who consume it will still get caught in the net, and get arrested in our operations, but at the same point, our priority is the big pushers, which requires extensive resources.”