$4.5m ice seizure a major break in supply chain and ‘an incredible accomplishment’ by police

The seizure of 3kg of ice has left a drug recovery advocate “gobsmacked” as she praised police for preventing the market being “flooded” with cheap drugs. HER SAY >>

If Friday’s seizure of around $4.5 million of ice in Hobart had not occurred it could have led to increased supply on Tasmanian streets at a significantly decreased price, a drug recovery advocate says.

Holyoake CEO Sarah Charlton said the seizure of one of the largest quantities of ice ever seen in Tasmania had left her “gobsmacked” and if it had not been detected it could have created more opportunities to try the highly addictive drug and consume larger quantities as the market would have been “flooded”.

The Mercury reported that on Friday 3kg of ice – estimated to contain 30,000 individual deals with a potential street value of $4.5 million – was seized and two men from Hobart’s northern suburbs were arrested in a joint operation between Tasmania Police, Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force.

“If it was a major break in supply and these guys were regular suppliers to the community, it will have a profound effect on the amount (of ice) available,” Ms Charlton said.

“This was an incredible accomplishment by our police.”

The seized 3kg of ice. Picture: Mireille Merlet

Ms Charlton said people would use whatever drug option was available to them and chronic drug addicts mostly use methamphetamines. She said the reduction in supply would mean fewer chances to use the drug.

Holyoake, a counselling and support service for those affected by drug use and addictions, knows first-hand the effects ice availability can have on families and how important it is to disrupt the supply chain.

Holyoake CEO Sarah Charlton says ice “tears families apart”. Picture: Eddie Safarik

Thirty percent of drug-using clients at Holyoake use ice and it is the most commonly used illicit drug the service encounters.

“It’s very hard to withdraw from ... and it tears families apart,” Ms Charlton said.

“Some parents come to us physically assaulted by children high on ice or having been threatened by them with violence to obtain money for ice.”

Detective Acting Inspector Mathew Adams said attempts to bring illicit substances into the state were a regular occurrence, typically coming from interstate but often originating from overseas, and these were usually transported through the Spirit of Tasmania, airline services or Australia Post.

Close working relationships with these agencies, along with the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force, allowed many of those attempts to be thwarted, Inspector Adams said.

Tasmania Police’s Detective Acting Inspector Mathew Adams, left, and the Australian Federal Police’s Detective Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle with the seized drugs. Picture: Mireille Merlet

In addition to less ice on Tasmanian streets, there would likely be other flow-on effects of the drug seizure.

“The potential flow-on effect is increased prices in illicit substances in Tasmania,” Mr Adams said.

“From a police perspective, what we hope for is this encourages people to seek assistance from a health perspective.

“We know that drugs do have a significant impact on our communities, including on crime and public order offences committed within the community.

“Our aim was not only to seize illicit drugs, it was also to disrupt the activities of criminals in the distribution of drugs in our community.

“We want to make life uncomfortable for those who seek to make a profit from the distribution of drugs.”