POLICE CLOSE DOWN 20 DRUG HOUSES TO HIT TRADE

Police were starting to win the war on drugs, Commissioner Paul White
claimed yesterday.

Police have shut down, or through raids forced the closure, of 20 drug
houses since August last year. ``The introduction of drug premises
legislation represented a major challenge and opportunity for the
police force to disrupt the illict drug market,'' Mr White said. He
said operations run by the drug squad had shut down drug houses known
to supply not only cannabis but also amphetamine. Since the
legislation's introduction: SIXTY-EIGHT first warning notices have
been issued, including one to a commercial premises in Darwin; NINE
second warning notices across the NT have been issued; FOUR third
warning notices have been given out; TWO homes have officially been
branded drug houses under the legislation _ one in Darwin and one at
Alice Springs. Mr White said the closure of the drug houses was a
significant part in limiting the availability of drugs in the
Territory.

In the 2002-03 financial year, police issued 20 drug
infringement notices to people caught cultivating less than two
cannabis plants, and 403 tickets to people caught with 50g or less of
the drug. Mr White said the drug squad had had some significant
results in catching those supplying and manufacturing drugs in the
Territory. ``Our fight against drugs saw the Drug Enforcement Unit
achieving considerable success in targeting the supply, distribution
and manufacture of illicit drugs,'' Mr White said. Police Minister
Paul Henderson said the Government's decision to give police the
powers they needed to tackle the NT's drug problem had paid off. He
said the Drug House legislation was one example of this. ``I commend
police for their dedication and commitment to intelligence-led
policing which has played such a significant role in this downturn in
crime rates in the Territory,'' he said.