Almost 1,000 people have been arrested and drugs worth an estimated $475 million have been seized across Australia after police launched a five-day blitz targeting organised crime and illicit drugs.
About 1.2 tonnes of drugs were found during Operation Vitreus, including 814 kilograms of methamphetamines, 182kg of MDMA and 185kg of cannabis
The joint initiative involved officers from all states and territories, as well as the Australian Federal Police, Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
The drug seizures included 15kg of methamphetamine buried in bushland at Stake Hill, south of Perth, and 12kg in bushland in suburban Dianella.
A 30-year-old man was arrested and charged in relation to the Stake Hill discovery, after police allegedly caught him trying to dig up some of the buried drugs while a three-year-old boy waited in his car.
Other drug seizures included $11.5 million of cannabis at Gunalda, north of Gympie in Queensland, where police found six 80-metre long greenhouses containing 2,284 cannabis plants, sophisticated hydroponic equipment and drug utensils.
In New South Wales, five people were arrested after simultaneous search warrants were executed in Georges Hall, Chester Hill, Smithfield, Bankstown, Greenacre and Earlwood as part of a “dial-a-dealer syndicate” investigation.
Cocaine, a revolver and 20 litres of the suspected party drug GBL were seized.
Operation Vitreus national chair Detective Superintendent John Hutchison said organised crime and illicit drug activity would continue to be targeted “at every level”.
“The success of this week of action should serve as a reminder to anyone in Australia who is involved in illicit drug and organised crime activity,” he said.
“We will find you and we will bring you to justice.”
(ABC)
