Police operation stops $4m worth of drugs hitting the Kimberley streets

A targeted police operation in the Kimberley has taken more than $4 million worth of drugs off the streets since April, with local police seizing more than 2.8kg of meth in their most recent raid.

According to police, since starting the operation officers have seized almost 4kg of methylamphetamine, ammunition and other drugs.

Involving officers Kununurra, Broome and Derby, the operation has continued to disrupt a network of alleged drug dealers infiltrating the region.

In the latest seizure in July, police located 2.8kg of meth in a storage unit in Broome, later charging a 49-year-old man from Kwinana and a 37-year-old woman from Pinjarra with possessing a trafficable quantity of meth with intent to sell or supply.

Police allege the pair organised the importation of 4kg of meth into Perth from overseas via an associate on March 30, before picking up the drugs from a hotel in Perth and transporting them to Kununurra where they were hidden in the walls of a Mud Springs residence.

Police allege the drugs were then moved to Broome.

According to police, the seizure is linked to a “drug dealing network” which was also allegedly involved in earlier busts, including 27g of meth in April and 667 grams in July.

The man and woman are due to appear in Broome Magistrates Court on November 24.

Kimberley Supt John Hutchison said the drug seizures were having a positive impact on communities across the region.

“Police throughout the Kimberley continue to work together in a co-ordinated effort to detect and disrupt the supply and distribution of illegal drugs throughout our district,” he said.

“This ongoing operation is a credit to the combined efforts of our officers who have stopped these drugs from reaching our streets. This quantity of drugs would have had a devastating effect if they had reached our community.

“We know that we are making a real dent in supply which is having a positive impact.

“We believe some of these drugs originated from overseas and while we won’t go into operational matters, I want this to be a clear warning that no matter who targets our region, Kimberley police are committed to the fight against illegal drugs and will use every resource available to us to bring those involved in the drug trade to justice.”

Supt Hutchison also praised the community for their continued support of police efforts to stop drug dealing.

“Community partnerships are vital and we urge people to help us to help our communities stop this scourge.

“Those involved in the illicit drugs trade prey on our people for profit. They don’t care about the death and destruction they cause.

“Stopping illegal drugs is one of our priorities and if you or anyone you know has information relating to drugs, or illegal or suspicious activity, we need you to report it to police because we will continue to target every level of this criminal activity.”

Anyone with information in relation to suspected drug use and dealing is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppers.wa.com.au.