Police have charged a total of 66 people with 443 drug, property and weapon related offences following the closure of Operation Butza on Sunday night, targeting the supply of dangerous drugs across Blackbutt, Yarraman, Nanango and Kingaroy.
During the eight-month long operation which commenced in September 2019, police executed multiple search warrants, conducted vehicle intercepts, utilised covert surveillance and other tactical actions across the South West District.
The operation culminated on Mary 24 with the arrest of a 25-year-old Kingaroy man in Blackbutt.
He was charged with 59 offences including 57 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, and one count each of trafficking dangerous drugs and receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying. He was due to appear in Kingaroy Magistrates Court yesterday (May 25).
As a result of Operation Butza, police seized drugs to the value of over $237,000 including more than $21,000 of Methylamphetamine and $215,000 of Cannabis, as well as stolen property and illegal firearms.
Detective Acting Superintendent Mat Kelly said the results reinforce the need to employ a joint approach between regional and specialist practitioners that target drug supply, demand and harm reduction.
“The Queensland community continues to consume illicit drugs at concerning levels, particularly in regional areas, which is empirically supported by waste water analysis and evident in the outcomes of this operation,” he said.
“Operation Butza has proven a great win for police and the community.”
