Detectives from the Major and Organised Crime Squad have charged 39 people as part of two operations last week targeting rural crime and stock theft in South East Queensland.
As part of Operation Tango Lyrical thirty of those people were charged with 79 offences involving drugs and stolen property.
From last Wednesday through to Friday a total of 35 raids were carried out on rural properties in Leyburn, Tara, Dalby, Chinchilla, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and Gympie regions targeting offenders allegedly involved in supplying and possessing dangerous drugs.
During the searches, officers located and seized two cannabis hydroponic systems, 152 cannabis plants, 3.5 kilogrammes of cannabis, a small quantity of methylamphetamine, a shortened firearm, five stolen trailers and other stolen property.
The seized drugs and stolen property have a combined value of approximately $708,000.
And last Saturday and Sunday Major Organised Crime Squad Investigators with help from the Road Policing Unit and local police, conducted checks of trucks carrying livestock on the Warrego Highway at Warra.
Called Operation Stock Check, it’s part of a national policing program to prevent and disrupt the movement of stolen stock.
In addition to inspecting vehicles carrying livestock, checking paperwork and monitoring for biosecurity compliance, the operation also focused on dangerous driving behaviour including drink and drug driving.
It resulted in the following:
- 9 people arrested on nine charges including four drug drivers
- 13 Traffic Infringement Notices issued including for speeding
- 1 biosecurity penalty infringement notice issued for failing to complete a stock movement record
- 504 roadside breath tests conducted.
Major Organised Crime Squad Rural Detective Inspector Troy Pukallus says Operation Stock Check was part of an ongoing strategy to disrupt stock and rural crime.
“Reported livestock theft in Queensland is the highest it has been in recent times, which is why we are encouraging rural communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to police.”
