Police crackdown on drug crime in Geelong region, more dealers exposed
The region’s top cop has revealed how Geelong police are cracking down on dealers peddling drugs.
Geelong
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Online drug dealing is being targeted as Geelong police make efforts to stamp out methamphetamine dealing across the region.
Police efforts to less meth dealing’s reach is proving effective with the total recorded offences almost halving in a year.
Data from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) reveals the total number of drug dealing and trafficking offences recorded in the Greater Geelong area has decreased, from 209 in 2020, to 120 in 2021.
Geelong Superintendent Peter Ward said the region’s officers are tackling the online avenue some dealers use to sell meth, and “continuously adapting” their approach to addressing drug crime.
“Selling drugs online is certainly not new, and while the emergence of social media and online communication platforms has posed a new challenge for law enforcement, our highly experienced drug investigators are actively targeting this space in a modern policing effort – we remain eagle-eyed for new opportunities for intelligence gathering and have no room for complacency,” Superintendent Ward said.
“The community can rest assured that police are continuously adapting our approach to tackling drug crime and we will leave no stone unturned when it comes to hunting down those people who dare to bring illicit drugs into our community.
“We know illicit drug use has a horrendous roll on effect for the community, with offending such as theft and family violence often stemming from drug use.
“Therefore police will remain determined in their efforts to stop drug dealers and other drug-related offending.”
Superintendent Ward said the region’s officers and detectives are “absolutely committed” to stopping drug dealers in their tracks.
He said they are dedicated to preventing the “devastating” impact drug crime has on the Geelong community, with many methods employed to do so.
“These officers share intelligence on a daily basis, regularly patrol known crime hot spots, and continuously engage with our most serious offenders to ensure they are complying with their bail conditions,” Superintendent Ward said.
“If they are not, police have absolutely no hesitation in bringing them before the courts again.”
These are some of Geelong’s offenders who recently faced court.
Oscar Edwards
The emerging young Geelong musician narrowly avoided jail after being exposed as a drug dealer.
Edwards had built a name for himself in Geelong’s music scene and had dreams of becoming famous and forging a career performing across the globe.
But in July 2020 and March 2021, separate raids on homes in Geelong and Melbourne brought his double life to light.
Geelong Magistrates Court heard police found an array of drugs and significant sums of cash during the raids.
Edwards, of Lara, was convicted and fined $5000 after pleading guilty to charges including drug trafficking.
Magistrate Franz Holzer said Edwards’s family support and other personal factors, which were not detailed publicly, had saved him from a jail term.
But Mr Holzer rejected a plea to not impose a conviction given the seriousness of the offending.
Alexander Kennedy
The Wandana Heights tradie was busted with a “staggering” amount of drugs during a raid on his Geelong home.
Kennedy was sentenced in August, 2021, to a good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to charges including trafficking cocaine and cannabis.
Geelong Magistrates Court heard police found 1.82kg of cannabis and 18g of cocaine while searching his home.
The bust, which took place in February 2020, stunned magistrate Jelena Popovic and resulted in the seizure of drugs with an estimated street value of $25,000.
“They’re staggering quantities. I’m staggered,” Ms Popovic said.
“These are not quantities that support an addiction. These are quantities that support a lavish lifestyle and a money-making enterprise, and they are very concerning.”
Kennedy was sentenced to a three-year good behaviour bond and ordered to pay $3000 to the court fund.
Jamaal Lewis
The Geelong man was jailed for the second time in a year in 2021 after he was again caught peddling drugs in the community.
Lewis was sentenced to five months jail after pleading guilty to drug trafficking.
The Whittington man was busted selling methamphetamine within weeks of being released from prison for the same offending.
The court heard Lewis was on a community correction order at the time of his second arrest.
Defence lawyer Claudia Flocke said her client relapsed into drug use a day after being released from his previous prison term.
Magistrate Simon Guthrie said Lewis’ crimes were “incredibly troubling” given his young age.
Lewis had already served nearly three months of his sentence due to time on remand.
Mr Guthrie also reinstated a community correction order for 12 months, which included 100 hours of unpaid work.
Ryan Armstrong
The Teesdale resident was caught growing more than 100 cannabis plants at his home in 2021.
He was busted when police raided his rental property on Bannockburn-Shelford Rd in 2020, which the County Court heard netted 130 plants, weighing a combined 10.25kg, along with a further 745g of loose cannabis that Armstrong was preparing to sell.
Armstrong was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison, with a non-parole period of 16 months.
Judge Michael Tinney said the father of five’s offending involved serious criminal conduct.
The court heard Armstrong had two prior convictions for trafficking drugs and had been sentenced to jail terms and community correction orders in the past.
Judge Tinney said the previous sentences had failed to deter Armstrong from committing similar crimes.
Armstrong had pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and cultivating a commercial quantity of cannabis.
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