POLICE BLITZ ON COUNTRY HEROIN

Police will launch a series of blitzes in country Victoria to crack
down on the growing heroin trade in regional centres.

The tactical response squad would be briefed to move into areas where
local police believed there were drug syndicates operating, said
Assistant Commissioner (Crime) George Davis.

"We have been watching where there is drug activity around the state
and we will be concentrating on problem areas. When they move, we will
move," he said.

Mr Davis said the tactical response squad would progressively target
drug hot spots around the state.

Acting Regional Commander Lyndsay Florence said police planned to
blitz Geelong, Ballarat and Warrnambool using large numbers of police
to saturate trouble spots.

He said the operation, code named "Reform", had been used successfully
in Footscray and would now move to the country.

Mr Florence said a recent drug operation, code named "Rickard",
exposed a drug syndicate working in Ballarat and Sunshine.

The Sunday Agerevealed that heroin, once considered largely a city
problem, had taken a frightening grip on young people in country Victoria.

Police have conducted nearly 50 drug investigations in regional
centres around Victoria in the past two years. Areas where police have
discovered major drug activities include Anglesea, Ballarat, Colac,
Geelong, Barwon Heads, Bendigo, Yarrawonga and Maryborough.

Police have found country syndicates selling heroin, LSD, cannabis,
amphetamines, prescription drugs, ecstasy and cocaine.

Chief Commissioner Neil Comrie said the crime problems in many
regional areas were similar to those in Melbourne suburbs. He said the
police force was now more flexible in dealing with problems around the
state.

"Previously police in Ballarat would have to use their resources to
deal with local issues but now with bigger regions we can use more
police to deal with local crime problems," he said.

The head of the drug squad, Detective Chief Inspector John McKoy said:
"There is no question there is a major drug problem in the regional
centres of Victoria and it is getting worse."

He said local police used small regional response units to deal with
the problem but they could be overwhelmed by the volume of work.

Police have been concerned that over the past few years bikie gangs
connected with the booming amphetamines trade have moved into country
regions.

Several smaller bike clubs in Victorian country towns and centres have
been forced to join the bigger organisations.

Police believe the gangs have made a move into the country because
they think they can identify all local police and can monitor an
increased police activity in the area.

In recent years police have identified bike gang violence in Ballarat
and Geelong as drug-related.

Police have been concerned at increased bikie activity in Geelong,
Ballarat, Wodonga, Morwell, Portland and Horsham.

Police say crime rates in the country regions vary greatly and are
usually connected to the unemployment rate.