Published Thursday, 16 November, 2006 at 01:11 PM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
SPENCE SPEARHEADS NATIONAL AMPHETAMINES CRACKDOWN
Other states and territories will consider adopting a Queensland-first initiative which is helping police to crack down on the illicit amphetamine drug trade.
Police Minister Judy Spence today called on her state and territory counterparts at the Australasian Police Ministers’ Council meeting in Adelaide to adopt the already successful Queensland pilot “Operation Stop”, which is putting ‘pseudo shoppers’ on notice.
“The Queensland Pharmacy Guild together with Queensland Police are putting a stop to people who try to shop around and buy pseudoephedrine products in over-the-counter pharmacy sales of cold and flu medication,” Ms Spence said.
“Pseudoephedrine is used in backyard drug labs to manufacture speed, amphetamines and ice.
“Project Stop is a computer system being used in around 700 Queensland pharmacies which is helping identify those people who seek illicit access to pseudoephedrine by shopping around at different pharmacies.
“To date, 36 arrests have resulted from over-the-counter pharmacy sales of medications containing pseudoephedrine, with 195 charges laid.
“Seven clandestine labs have also been seized and shut down, and further police investigations are underway.
“I congratulate the Queensland Pharmacy Guild for its work with police and their proactive approach to fighting drug abuse and those who profit from the illegal drug trade.”
Ms Spence put Operation Stop on the national agenda at today’s ministerial council meeting and received a commitment from on her interstate counterparts to consider implementing the scheme nationally.
She also gave her support at the meeting to a Commonwealth Government proposal to establish a national clandestine laboratory database.
“There has been a steady increase in clandestine laboratories being detected across Australia,” Ms Spence said.
“In 1996-97 there were 58 detected, but during 2005-06 there were 376 clandestine laboratories detected and shut down across Australia.
“Of those detected in 2005-06, 160 were in Queensland – which amounts to 42.5% of the total national laboratory seizures.
“Currently in Australia there is no national database or system to capture and disseminate information and intelligence on the activities conducted in clandestine labs.
“Establishing a national database would help inform and target law enforcement supply reduction activities, and would also support cross-border investigations.
“The database would help police identify trends in illicit drug manufacture, cooks and people of interest moving across state borders by their signature chemicals, equipment, recipes and manufacturing methods.”
Ms Spence said the database was expected to cost around $2.5 million to establish and implement, with the costs shared by federal, state and territory governments.
“The Queensland Government is committed to reducing all levels of drug crime – whether it is the use, sale or manufacture of drugs,” Ms Spence said.
Ms Spence said the Beattie Government had introduced laws to help reduce drug use and manufacture, including enabling powder-drug detection dogs to be used in licensed premises, and increased controls on precursor chemicals, scientific apparatus and pill presses.
Media contact – Alison Smith 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287
Police Minister Judy Spence today called on her state and territory counterparts at the Australasian Police Ministers’ Council meeting in Adelaide to adopt the already successful Queensland pilot “Operation Stop”, which is putting ‘pseudo shoppers’ on notice.
“The Queensland Pharmacy Guild together with Queensland Police are putting a stop to people who try to shop around and buy pseudoephedrine products in over-the-counter pharmacy sales of cold and flu medication,” Ms Spence said.
“Pseudoephedrine is used in backyard drug labs to manufacture speed, amphetamines and ice.
“Project Stop is a computer system being used in around 700 Queensland pharmacies which is helping identify those people who seek illicit access to pseudoephedrine by shopping around at different pharmacies.
“To date, 36 arrests have resulted from over-the-counter pharmacy sales of medications containing pseudoephedrine, with 195 charges laid.
“Seven clandestine labs have also been seized and shut down, and further police investigations are underway.
“I congratulate the Queensland Pharmacy Guild for its work with police and their proactive approach to fighting drug abuse and those who profit from the illegal drug trade.”
Ms Spence put Operation Stop on the national agenda at today’s ministerial council meeting and received a commitment from on her interstate counterparts to consider implementing the scheme nationally.
She also gave her support at the meeting to a Commonwealth Government proposal to establish a national clandestine laboratory database.
“There has been a steady increase in clandestine laboratories being detected across Australia,” Ms Spence said.
“In 1996-97 there were 58 detected, but during 2005-06 there were 376 clandestine laboratories detected and shut down across Australia.
“Of those detected in 2005-06, 160 were in Queensland – which amounts to 42.5% of the total national laboratory seizures.
“Currently in Australia there is no national database or system to capture and disseminate information and intelligence on the activities conducted in clandestine labs.
“Establishing a national database would help inform and target law enforcement supply reduction activities, and would also support cross-border investigations.
“The database would help police identify trends in illicit drug manufacture, cooks and people of interest moving across state borders by their signature chemicals, equipment, recipes and manufacturing methods.”
Ms Spence said the database was expected to cost around $2.5 million to establish and implement, with the costs shared by federal, state and territory governments.
“The Queensland Government is committed to reducing all levels of drug crime – whether it is the use, sale or manufacture of drugs,” Ms Spence said.
Ms Spence said the Beattie Government had introduced laws to help reduce drug use and manufacture, including enabling powder-drug detection dogs to be used in licensed premises, and increased controls on precursor chemicals, scientific apparatus and pill presses.
Media contact – Alison Smith 3239 6218 / 0439 673 287