DRUG DEALERS TARGET 'GOOD MACKAY KIDS'

GOLD COAST drug dealers are targeting young, affluent people in the
Mackay party scene to deal the dangerous methamphetamine ice.

Mackay police Acting Sergeant John Kerslake said investigations
showed drug dealers associated with outlaw motorcycle gangs,
including the Finks, and Gold Coast business men were targeting young
party goers to sell ice and ecstasy pills.

"Distributors start off by giving freebies, and then they start
selling it to them and suggest they can make money and support their
own usage by selling it to their friends," Act Sgt Kerslake said.
"Before you know it these young people are driving to the Gold Coast
to bring back between $100 and $1000 worth of ecstasy or methamphetamines.

"These young people come from good families these are good kids
without criminal records," he said.

Act Sgt Kerslake said it appeared drug distributors were targeting
Mackay because of the high disposable income amongst young people.

"It is profitable to be in Mackay," he said.

And it looks like those distributors are cashing in.

Act Sgt Kerslake said ecstasy and methamphetamine dealing and use had
dramatically increased in Mackay through this year.

"Last year we would come across these drugs infrequently.

"ow we are dealing with it very regularly, we are finding more and
larger quantities of it and we are charging people with major
possession or supply offences," he said.

The latest methamphetamine haul was last Thursday.

A member of the public tipped off police to a 38-year-old man in
possession of methamphetimines.

Police found 6.8 grams of what preliminary tests showed was ice,
hidden in a candle and $20,000 in cash stashed in a wall cavity in a
Mackay home. The man has been charged with possession of
amphetamines. Act Sgt Kerslake said police were increasingly alarmed
by the blase use of ice and ecstasy among the general young population.

"These kids are naive and willing to experiment. They think only
druggies smoke cannabis they don't see pills (ecstasy) as the same.
They see it as a party drug not an illicit drug."

Act Sgt Kerslake said their use of ice was similar.

"They call it 'gas' and put it in their drinks," he said.

But while Mackay youths were taking risks on the party scene, Act Sgt
Kerslake said police and health workers were dealing with the other
side of drugs.

"From what we are seeing at the coalface it causes the destruction of
family networks, relationships and employment breakdown."

In Australia ice has become public enemy number one with graphic,
Federal Government ads warning young people not to take the highly
addictive drug.

Now that the destructive drug has penetrated the Mackay party scene
police want to stop it in its tracks.

They are urging the public to dob in a drug dealer or user by calling
Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 as part of their Drug Stoppers
campaign. Since October 15 callers have helped spark 67
investigations and 150 drug charges.