More than three kilograms of methylamphetamine, enough to flood Tasmania’s streets with tens of thousands of dangerous doses, has been seized from a vehicle at the Spirit of Tasmania terminal.
It was the biggest of three major drug busts across the state’s north-west this week.
Police have charged four people after three separate operations resulted in the seizure of over 3.5 kilograms of ice, a haul authorities say could have led to more than 35,000 individual street deals.
In the largest bust, a 27-year-old Bracknell woman was arrested on serious trafficking charges after police uncovered 3.39 kilograms of meth and a large amount of GHB during routine screening at the Devonport Spirit terminal on Wednesday.
Officers from the Western Drug and Firearms Unit, assisted by Western CIB and a Tasmania Police drug dog, carried out a standard search of the woman’s vehicle and allegedly found the stash, including five litres of GHB.
“Tasmania Police will continue to target offenders who attempt to import illicit substances into Tasmania by conducting both targeted and random screening of persons entering the state by sea and airports,” Western District Acting Commander Nathan Johnston said.
The woman was charged with trafficking, importation of a controlled drug, dealing with suspected proceeds of crime and other minor drug offences.
She was remanded in custody and appeared in the Devonport Magistrates Court yesterday.
In an unrelated case earlier in the week, two people were charged with trafficking after allegedly fleeing police and being caught with drugs during a vehicle stop.
Taskforce Scelus officers attempted to intercept a car during patrols in West Ulverstone on Tuesday afternoon, but the driver allegedly sped off.
Road spikes were deployed and both occupants, a 29-year-old West Ulverstone man and 24-year-old Newnham woman, were arrested.
A search of the car allegedly uncovered 63 grams of methylamphetamine and more than $3,000 in cash, suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Both were charged with trafficking and minor drug offences. The man also faces charges of evading police and a string of driving offences, including unlicensed driving.
They were remanded in custody, with the man appearing in Burnie Magistrates Court today. The woman is due to face court in June.
In a third, unrelated incident, a 51-year-old north-west man, identified as a member of the Outlaws motorcycle gang, was charged following a raid at a Devonport home on Thursday morning.
Police say they found a quantity of methylamphetamine during the search. The man will face charges of selling, possessing and using a controlled drug.
Acting Commander Johnston said these operations sent a clear message to criminals.
“Stopping these drugs before they reach our streets has prevented further harm to the Tasmanian community,” he said.
