Dangerous drugs are just a click away as 30,000 school leavers descend on the Gold Coast

DANGEROUS drugs including ice and horse tranquillisers will be just a click away for tech-savvy schoolies arriving on the Gold Coast this week.

DANGEROUS drugs, including ice and horse tranquillisers, will be just a click away for tech-savvy schoolies arriving on the Gold Coast this week.

State Crime Command detectives have been targeting an online drug syndicate since July and this week seized $1.3 million of drugs just in time for the school leaver’s festival.

But drugs are still brazenly listed for sale on Craigslist Brisbane and Gold Coast with code names such as ‘420’, ‘Crystal is in town’ and ‘Kevin’ used to describe cannabis, ice and ketamine.

Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker said it was not clear if the drugs were targeted at schoolies but revealed one alleged online dealer was just 15-years-old.

He said investigations were continuing despite the closure of targeted operation ‘North Seamonk’.

Schoolies celebrations at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“This operation was co-ordinated to close this week due to Schoolies starting on the Gold Coast to reduce the availability of dangerous drugs to persons attending those festivities,” he said.

“We don’t want to name the websites targeted for operational reasons but a number of persons are still outstanding and investigations are continuing.

“The investigation identified a person as young as 15 accessing these sites.

“The oldest arrested was 29 and the median age of people involved is 23.”

Det Supt Wacker said the operation had lifted the lid on a new wave of drug dealers.

“I think that as investigators we have to keep up with the times,” he said.

“This medium, the internet, is not going to go away. We have to accustom ourselves to the current trends and that is what we’re doing.”

A total of 27 people were yesterday charged with 105 offences, including five of trafficking dangerous drugs and 35 charges of suppling dangerous drugs.

A sophisticated hydroponic cannabis growing system containing about 221 cannabis plants valued around $1.1m was found in a Redbank Plains home.

In all, $1.12m worth of drugs, including methylamphetamine, MDMA, LSD and cannabis were seized during raids across the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

The massive haul will put a dent in the Schoolies drugs trade but several ads are still online and are part of the ongoing police investigation.

The sophisticated syndicate has come to light as police and volunteers warn school leavers to steer clear of drugs or risk ruining their lives.

Superintendent Craig Hanlon said one bad decision could cost a young person their life, or their future.

“Young people don’t think of the consequences when they’re in the moment doing these things, but just one mistake with drugs could change their lives for ever,” he said.

“The message to schoolies is, if you get caught with drugs you will be arrested, you will go to court and you will have a criminal record.

“This will affect job prospects and even the ability to travel in some countries for years to come.”

Red Frogs volunteer Justin Greenway (left) and Kelly Thompson all geared up to welcome the arrival of schoolies in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Regi Varghese

Red Frogs national co-ordinator Andy Gourley said teenagers were more likely to experiment while drunk.

“Often it will be that the kids are drunk and someone will say ‘Here, try this’ and they will,” he said.

“Schoolies are most vulnerable when they are drinking, so we ask everyone to look after your mates, make sure they don’t take drugs.”

Mr Gourley said alcohol was the most prevalent “drug” used at Schoolies celebrations but recreational party drugs were also a concern.

“Ecstasy tablets are the most common drug used but it is relatively small compared to the amount of alcohol consumed,” he said

Police sniffer dogs will be used in the entertainment precinct during the next two weeks as part of the police response to Schoolies celebrations.

Ambos: Silence can be deadly

SOME Schoolies would rather risk their mates dying from an overdose than tell paramedics what drugs they have taken.

Acting Inspector Justin Payne said school leavers often refused to talk to ambulance workers out of fear their friends could end up in trouble with the law.

He said the misguided loyalty was putting lives at risk and hindering treatment.

“The ambulance is not the Queensland Police Service and we will not report you at all for any drugs you have taken,” he said.

“We just need to know, so we can fix the problem

“If the person doesn’t have the drugs on them, the police can’t do anything anyway.

“We will not prosecute and will not pass the information on.”

Insp Payne said party drugs would put a strain on medical resources this year and warned potentially lethal drugs like fantasy and ice were around in force.

“Our biggest concerns are the typical party drugs,” he said.

“Unfortunately, at the moment there is a lot of fantasy and ice around and they are usually mixed with other drugs.

“You can never tell 100 per cent what the drug is, which makes it hard to treat.

“If we don’t know what drugs have been mixed and the friends won’t tell us, we have to treat based on symptoms which is more difficult and less reliable.

“In bad situations we will have to transport the patient to hospital.”

The Ambulance Treatment Centre is located across the road from Soul high-rise in Surfers Paradise.

Life Education Queensland chief executive Michael Fawsitt, who has run a series of education sessions for school-leavers, said schoolies should give ambulance workers as much information as possible in a drug overdose situation.

“(Schoolies) need to tell whoever is on the scene all the information to ensure they can be treated fast,” he said.

“In those situations it can be the difference between life and death and a few years ago on the Gold Coast there was a case where a young girl overdosed and the boyfriend refused to talk.

“That girl died.”

Originally published as Dangerous drugs are just a click away as 30,000 school leavers descend on the Gold Coast