Detectives from the Gold Coast Child Protection and Investigation Unit (CPIU) have charged two teenagers and New South Wales Police (NSWPOL) have charged a man following a cross-border operation targeting the trafficking and supply of illegal drugs between New South Wales and Queensland.
Operation Yankee Interstate forms part of ongoing proactive policing activities targeting drug trafficking and organised criminal activity across the Gold Coast.
On 21 May, Gold Coast CPIU detectives executed three coordinated search warrants at properties in Pimpama and Coomera as part of investigations into the alleged supply of cocaine, MDMA and cannabis into Queensland from northern New South Wales.
During a search warrant at Pimpama, police allegedly located a quantity of cocaine, MDMA tablets, cannabis, mobile phones and approximately $7,945 in cash.
A second warrant at another nearby address allegedly resulted in the seizure of additional mobile phones and other evidentiary items.
A third warrant at Coomera allegedly resulted in police locating cannabis, drug utensils, cash, and a mobile phone. As part of the investigation, detectives from the Gold Coast CPIU worked with NSWPOL, with inquiries identifying alleged suppliers operating from the Tweed Heads area.
Tweed Heads South
In support of the Queensland investigation, on 21 May, NSWPOL executed a simultaneous search warrant at a Tweed Heads South address, allegedly locating a portable clandestine drug laboratory, a commercial quantity of LSD and MDMA, a quantity of cannabis, a gel blaster, and a large sum of cash.
Acting Detective Inspector Nathan Boddy said the operation highlighted the strong collaborative efforts between the Queensland Police Service (QPS) and NSWPOL to disrupt cross-border drug offending.
‘This operation demonstrates the commitment of Gold Coast CPIU detectives to identifying and disrupting the trafficking of dangerous drugs into our communities,’ Acting Detective Inspector Boddy said.
‘We will continue to target anyone involved in the supply of dangerous drugs, particularly where young people are allegedly involved in serious criminal offending,’ he said. ‘Drug trafficking causes significant harm across our community, and detectives will continue to use every available investigative strategy to disrupt those responsible.’
Teenagers
A 16-year-old Pimpama boy has been charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs Schedule 1 drug quantity of or exceeding Schedule 3 but less than Schedule 4, and one count each of contravene order about information necessary to access information stored electronically, possess dangerous drugs and possess utensils or pipes etc that had been used.
He appeared at Southport Childrens Court on 22 May.
A 16-year-old Coomera boy has been charged with 15 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, two counts each of possess utensils or pipes etc that had been used and possess utensils or pipes etc for use, and one count each of possess dangerous drugs, possess property suspected of being proceeds of offence under Drugs Misuse Act, authority required to possess explosives and receive tainted property.
He is due to appear at Southport Childrens Court today, 27 May.
A 43-year-old Tweed Heads South man has been charged by New South Wales Police with two counts of supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity) and one count each of knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, supply prohibited drug (small indictable quantity) and possess unauthorised firearm.
He is due to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on 17 July.
Investigations remain ongoing.
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