16 hours ago
Coolum police investigation uncovers drug ring, seven people charged
Police have charged seven people with 105 offences uncovered during an investigation into a massive drug ring.
Officers at Coolum, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, launched the investigation to detect, disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking and supply.
The operation began after police intercepted a white Mazda CX-5 on David Low Way at Pacific Paradise on August 23 last year.
The driver, a 34-year-old Woodridge woman, tested positive to a roadside drug test.
Police then searched her car and allegedly found dangerous drugs, cash, and suspected tainted property.
An investigation led Coolum officers to arrest the 34-year-old woman on May 31.
She was charged with 26 drug offences, including 24 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, including cannabis, psilocybin and methylamphetamine.
She was also charged with one count of trafficking cannabis.
She is due to appear before Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 23.
Police said separate charges arose from an investigation that started after they searched a 29-year-old Peregian Springs man in Coolum Beach on February 23.
Officers charged the man on May 8 with 16 offences.
They included trafficking cocaine, methylamphetamine, MDMA, alprazolam and cannabis.
He was issued a notice to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 12.
Police then did a welfare check on a man reportedly asleep in a white Nissan Navara in a car park on Elizabeth Street at Coolum Beach on April 12.
The driver returned a positive roadside breath test.
Police then searched his car and allegedly found drug utensils and dangerous drugs.
The 19-year-old Marcus Beach man was charged on June 12 with 32 offences, including one count each of trafficking cocaine and MDMA.
He was issued a notice to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 14.
Police raided properties in the Coolum area on June 12 in relation to more suspected drug activity.
Asa a result, officers allegedly found electronic devices, dangerous drugs, drug utensils and a weapon at a Marcoola property.
A 35-year-old Marcoola man was then charged 11 offences, including possession of cocaine, GHB, methylamphetamine and cannabis.
He was also charged with possessing a taser.
He was issued a notice to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 17.
Meanwhile, police allegedly found electronic devices, dangerous drugs and drug utensils while searching a Peregian Springs property.
A 37-year-old Peregian Springs man was then charged with three offences, while a 36-year-old Peregian Springs woman was charged with four offences, including possessing methylamphetamine.
They are both due to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 21.
Further north, police allegedly found electronic devices, dangerous drugs, and drug utensils while searching a Tewantin property.
A 36-year-old Tewantin woman was charged with 13 offences, including four counts of supplying methylamphetamine.
She was remanded in custody and to next appear at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 14.
Sunshine Coast Northern Patrol Group officer John Mahony said the investigations were focused on stopping the movement of dangerous and illegal drugs.
"Most of the people charged under this operation became known to police through roadside drug tests or stop searches on the street," Inspector Mahony said.
"This is core duty proactive policing and shows the dedication by local police to thoroughly investigate a person when they have allegedly been located with dangerous drugs.
"We're committed to disrupting drug traffickers and suppliers to prevent harmful substances hitting the streets and impacting our community."
