From time to time there are media articles that catch the eye because there is mention of north-east New South Wales and information about drug activity in the region which in 2024 revealed that:
In March 2024 during a search of a Kingscliff property in northern NSW police and Australian Border Force officers reportedly found and dismantled a large drug lab and seized over 1,000 litres of precursors for MDMA and methamphetamine.
On Saturday, 20 July, 2024, officers from Tweed/Byron Police District stopped a vehicle in Brunswick Heads for the purpose of a random breath test. He was arrested after police searched the vehicle and allegedly located about 38 grams of MDMA, 91 grams of ketamine, 55 grams of cocaine, five grams of cannabis resin, five grams of LSD, 40 grams of cannabis leaf and 32 prescription pills - as well as a small quantity of cannabis leaf, 113 grams of cocaine, 33 grams of MDMA powder, $13,500 in cash, a sling shot, a number of prescription pills and two mobile telephones at his residence.
Then on Wednesday, 31 July 2024 police from the Northern Rivers Region Enforcement Squad, assisted by the Tactical Operations Unit, stopped a vehicle at a service station in Chinderah. Three people in the vehicle – a 37-year-old woman, and two men aged 28 and 51 – were arrested at the scene as part of a drug investigation.
And again on Thursday, 1 August 2024 six people are behind bars after a major drug bust in the Northern Rivers. Arrests occurred at Chinderah, Tweed and Evans Heads. Three search warrants simultaneously in Evans Head and Tweed Heads uncovering seven pistols, one shotgun, one rifle, nine gel blasters, three electronic stun devices, knuckle dusters, flick knives, batons, handcuffs, cocaine, more than a litre of GBL, steroids, almost 1.5kg of methamphetamine, fireworks, and almost $40,000 in cash.
It seems that some areas of the Northern Rivers region are definitely part of a much wider problem which again came to public notice with this report.
NSW Police News, 27 August 2024:
Officers from across the NSW Police Force have seized over $14 million worth of prohibited drugs across the state, disrupting significant sources of large-scale drug supply and organised crime activity as part of Operation Vitreus national week of action.
Operation Vitreus is a joint initiative between all Australian state and territory police agencies, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, AUSTRAC, Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and New Zealand Police, which ran between Monday 19 August 2024 and Friday 23 August 2024.
During the operation, 1611 people were arrested, resulting in 2962 charges and the seizure of over 7kg of heroine, 107kg of methylamphetamine, 42kg of cocaine, 12kg of MDMA, 2.5kg of ketamine, 2512 cannabis plants and 247kg of cannabis, as well as 71 firearms and over $2.2 million in cash.
The estimated combined street value of all drugs seized during the operation is $93 million. [my yellow highlighting]
The NSW Police operation – led by State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad – saw over 311 arrests, resulting in 456 charges, and the seizure of over 1.4kg of heroine, 18.6kg of methylamphetamine, 3.6kg of cocaine, 287g of MDMA, 132 Cannabis plants and 4.8kg of cannabis and 23 firearms.
The estimated combined street value of all drugs seized in NSW is over $14 million....... [my yellow highlighting]
Police would also like to remind the public about the health issues of these drugs targeted during Operation Vitreus.
General health risks/harms associated with illicit drugs
Illicit drug use carries inherent risks and taking even a known substance can result in unintended harm.
The consumption of alcohol and other drugs is a major cause of preventable disease and illness in Australia.
The harms from drug use impact – directly and indirectly – on all Australian communities, families and individuals. Impacts range across the spectrum of health, social and economic harms. Health harms include injuries, chronic conditions and diseases, mental health problems, road trauma, and overdose.
Methamphetamine
The health harms associated with the use of methamphetamine and other stimulants include mental illness, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular problems and overdose.
People who inject methamphetamine and share needles are at increased risk of contracting hepatitis C, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS as well as infection and vein damage.
Methamphetamine production often relies on unknown and/or harmful ingredients. This can further increase the health risks associated with consumption.
GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate)
Consumption of GHB can cause drowsiness, vomiting, mood swings and dependence. GHB use carries a high risk of unconsciousness, respiratory collapse and overdose because there is very little difference between the amount that it is typically consumed and the amount that will cause overdose.
The risk of GHB overdose increases when its use is combined with other drugs such as alcohol, benzodiazepines and opioids.
Synthetic opioids including fentanyl and nitazenes
The negative health consequences of opioids, including synthetic opioids includes dependence, infectious disease transmission (primarily through risky injecting practice) and death from overdose.
Synthetic opioids can be extremely potent which increases the risk of health harms including overdose.
People who use other drugs such as heroin and cocaine may inadvertently consume synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and nitazenes when it is used as an adulterant. Synthetic opioids have also be found in counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs. Inherently this kind of exposure increases the risk of overdose.
The Take Home Naloxone (THN) Program makes naloxone, a medicine that temporarily reverse the effects of opioids (including synthetic opioids), available for free, without the need for a prescription, to people who may experience, or witness an opioid overdose. Further details at: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/take-home-naloxone-program
Alcohol and drug treatment hotline
The National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline provides free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs treatment services on 1800 250 015. Further information on treatment and supports is available from: https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/drug-help/how-to-find-help
Overdose
> Drugs are unpredictable and they can affect people in different ways.
> Call 000 for an ambulance immediately if there is even the slightest risk that someone is having an unusual reaction to a drug.
> Emergency services will only notify police if there is a risk to their own personal safety or if someone dies.
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