RAIDS STIFLE CANNABIS TRADE

POLICE have dealt a major blow to the north Queensland illicit trade of
cannabis and amphetamines after 40 people were arrested on more than 260
drug-related charges.

More than 100 police raided homes and businesses in Cairns and Townsville
over the past two days seizing 11kg of cannabis, amphetamines, LSD, cocaine
and morphine.

Property worth almost $500,000 and $4000 in cash and assets also were
seized during the closure of Operation Malt involving north Queensland
police and the State Drug Investigative Group.

Eleven people were charged with 30 offences, including three for
trafficking cannabis, after police raided several properties in the
Atherton Tablelands and Cairns area on Tuesday.

Police yesterday raided several Townsville private residences and
businesses, arresting 29 people.

They were charged with 230 drug-related offences, including seven of
trafficking amphetamines and cannabis.

A Townsville home and a Toowoomba block of land worth about $480,000 have
been restrained and two bank accounts have been frozen. Laboratory
glassware used in amphetamine production, four cars and a fishing boat were
also seized.

Acting Detective Superintendent Anne Macdonald, from the State Drug
Investigation Group, said the seven-month investigation had made
"significant inroads" into the availability of certain illegal drugs in
north Queensland.

"We have broken a number of smaller syndicates and people operating in the
Northern and Far Northern regions," she said.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski