Police have arrested 40 people on drug and property offences as part of Operation Victor Ignite, targeting drug trafficking on the Sunshine Coast.
The protracted drug operation concluded on May 23, after the Sunshine Coast Drug and Serious Crime Taskforce laid 25 drug trafficking charges and a further 167 drug and property related charges.
During the 18-month long operation, also supported by officers from the Crime and Intelligence Command and Taskforce Maxima, 24 search warrants were executed on homes and businesses across the Sunshine Coast and one in Brisbane, where police seized a large quantity of drugs including cocaine, MDMA, ketamine and cannabis.
Police also located and seized four high end vehicles, a $30,000 boat and several firearms including a loaded semi-automatic pistol.
A large, sophisticated hydropic cannabis grow house was also located during a search of a property in Kunda Park.
Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch Officer in Charge Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Chris Duhig said Operation Victor Ignite is a fight against drugs and organised crime.
“This operation targeted high-end supply of dangerous drugs from organised crime syndicates and it sends a clear message that drugs are not welcome on the streets of the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“I thank the officers involved for their protracted investigation work and their tireless efforts to stop the supply of illicit drugs to our community.
“Though this concludes Operation Victor Ignite, police continue to investigate drug trafficking on the Sunshine Coast and I encourage anyone with information that may assist to contact police.”
A search warrant on May 21 at a Meridan Plains address resulted in a 48-year-old Merdian Plains man being charged with three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of trafficking dangerous drugs and possessing anything used in the commission of crime, and one count each of receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying, contravening order about information necessary to access information sorted electronically, unlawful possession of weapons, manufacture, sale, supply, obtaining or possessing of gaming machines and authority required to possess explosives.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to reappear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on August 2.
The search warrant also resulted in a 20-year-old Meridan Plains man being charged with four counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of trafficking dangerous drugs and receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying, and one count each of possessing anything used in the commission of crime, unlawful possession of weapons, contravening order about information necessary to access information stored electronically, offence to buy or possess medicines or hazardous poisons, authority required to possess explosives, and manufacture, sale, supply, obtaining or possession of gaming machines.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to reappear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on August 2.
A Mercedes Benz was also seized from this property.
A search warrant at a second Meridan Plains address on May 21 resulted in a 23-year-old Meridan Plains man being charged with one count each of trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime, and possess utensils or pipes that had been used.
He is due to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 4.
A search warrant at a Birtinya address on May 21 resulted in a 17-year-old Birtinya boy being charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and one count each of supplying dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime, possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence and authority required to possess explosives.
He is due to appear in Maroochydore Childrens Court on May 29.
The search warrant also resulted in an 18-year-old Birtinya man being charged with one count each of trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime, contravening order about information necessary to access information stored electronically and possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to reappear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on May 27.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
