POLICE CATCH TRAINS IN HEROIN CHASE

Police are planning a massive crackdown on heroin dealers they believe are
selling drugs on Melbourne trains. The move comes as Bayside Trains began
recruiting 53 extra staff to improve security on their lines.

Assistant Commissioner (Crime) George Davis said dealers were jumping on
the trains when police began to saturate an area to stop drug activity. "We
have information that they are selling drugs on the trains because they
believe they can avoid police scrutiny," he said.

The crime department and transit police were developing tactics to move on
the dealers.

"We will not be telegraphing our punches as to where and when we will move
in but the trains will become a target of intense policing."

The crime department's tactical response squad would be involved in
identifying drug dealers operating on trains and stations, he said.

It was part of the police strategy to progressively attack all major crime
and drug hotspots throughout the state. Mr Davis said police had moved back
to blitz the central business district as part of Operation Leader (4) and
expected to be in the area in force for at least three months.

Police would also move through to regional centres where street drug
trafficking could be seen to be a problem.