HIGHWAY STOP IS CENTRE FOR DRUG BUST

Eucla, on the Eyre Highway 1430km east of Perth, has become the
unlikely setting for several recent busts that have prevented millions
of dollars of drugs reaching Perth streets.

The busts have been chalked up by police patrolling the stretch of
highway on WA's side of the border. Officers have already been
involved in investigating UFO sightings, bizarre rescues and trying to
stop parents giving their young children driving lessons on the
dangerous highway and busy trucking route.

Routine traffic stops on the main bitumen link to the Eastern States
can end with anything from a friendly chat about road conditions to
high-profile arrests of drug dealers, prison escapees and wanted criminals.

Police claim that in the past six weeks, routine traffic stops at
Eucla - labelled the biggest town on the Nullarbor Plain with a
population of about 180 people - have netted 357g of heroin, 2kg of
methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, and 2kg of cannabis.

Det-Supt Jim Migro said the Eyre Highway was one of only two obvious
routes for drug traffickers to take from the Eastern States to WA and
organised crime investigators liaised closely with officers at Eucla.

Information gained from each bust could form crucial intelligence for
subsequent investigations that could involve Australian Federal Police
and detectives from other jurisdictions, Supt Migro said.

Eucla officer-in-charge Sgt Peter Vale said the recent run of seizures
on the Eyre Highway began on March 3 with the arrest of a truck driver
who had 11.72g of methamphetamine divided into four deal bags
concealed in a portable fridge.

On March 4, another truck driver was stopped and found to have about
2kg of cannabis divided into four air-tight bags hidden in a box on
the vehicle.

A father and son were allegedly found with almost 2kg of
methamphetamine, another 27.4g of ice in a yellow envelope, and a 357g
block of heroin in their car on April 7.

On April 18 police found 4.45g of methamphetamine and deal bags on a
truck driver who had been stopped for speeding 100km west of Eucla.

Sgt Vale said those finds resulted in charges of possession with
intent to sell or supply.

There had been several other busts which resulted in lesser drug
charges.

Sgt Vale said the use of amphetamine in the trucking industry should
be a concern to all road users.

Some long-distance truck drivers used stimulants including amphetamine
to stay awake to try to meet demanding schedules.