CMC REPORT COMMENDS CURRENT STRATEGIES FOR COMBATING COCAINE: SPENCE
Published Monday, 22 October, 2007 at 04:42 PM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
Police Minister Judy Spence has welcomed the conclusions of a CMC report which found the current strategies in place for stemming the drug trade in Queensland are working.
Ms Spence said the CMC Report into the cocaine market in Queensland found that the trends associated with significant problems in other countries where cocaine use is prevalent, do not exist in this state.
“Police have put in place serious strategies to combat drugs in Queensland and this report shows they are working,” Ms Spence said.
“Despite Queensland’s huge population growth, the report found the cocaine market: has expanded minimally in Queensland over recent years (and) Queensland does not currently have a large number of marginalised users, nor has it experienced the advent of ‘crack’ cocaine.
“It also concluded that: the present status of the market does not demand greater focus than what is currently provided, or a shift in Law Enforcement Agencies’ priorities from more prevalent illicit drugs or other major crime.
“These conclusions prove the hard work of the Queensland Police Service to combat the drug trade in this state is paying off.”
Ms Spence said the report highlighted the need to acknowledge the role of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs in the drug market.
“We are well aware of the fact that Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs are heavily involved in the production and supply of illegal drugs, including cocaine,” Ms Spence said.
“That is why we provided $2 Million last year to set up the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Taskforce to investigate and decimate outlaw motorcycle gangs in this state.
“The Task Force has been involved in a number of major raids in recent months, resulting in large numbers of arrests and the seizure of significant amounts of drugs.
“Targeted police operations are also achieving great results, with drugs and property with a street value of more than $2.4 million seized as a result of special investigations into organised crime last year.
"The undercover operations saw 118 people arrested on a total of 819 charges.
“We will continue to provide police with the funding, resources and powers they need to enable them to continue to monitor and crack down on all people involved in the drug trade in this state.”
Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 0439 673 287
Ms Spence said the CMC Report into the cocaine market in Queensland found that the trends associated with significant problems in other countries where cocaine use is prevalent, do not exist in this state.
“Police have put in place serious strategies to combat drugs in Queensland and this report shows they are working,” Ms Spence said.
“Despite Queensland’s huge population growth, the report found the cocaine market: has expanded minimally in Queensland over recent years (and) Queensland does not currently have a large number of marginalised users, nor has it experienced the advent of ‘crack’ cocaine.
“It also concluded that: the present status of the market does not demand greater focus than what is currently provided, or a shift in Law Enforcement Agencies’ priorities from more prevalent illicit drugs or other major crime.
“These conclusions prove the hard work of the Queensland Police Service to combat the drug trade in this state is paying off.”
Ms Spence said the report highlighted the need to acknowledge the role of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs in the drug market.
“We are well aware of the fact that Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs are heavily involved in the production and supply of illegal drugs, including cocaine,” Ms Spence said.
“That is why we provided $2 Million last year to set up the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Taskforce to investigate and decimate outlaw motorcycle gangs in this state.
“The Task Force has been involved in a number of major raids in recent months, resulting in large numbers of arrests and the seizure of significant amounts of drugs.
“Targeted police operations are also achieving great results, with drugs and property with a street value of more than $2.4 million seized as a result of special investigations into organised crime last year.
"The undercover operations saw 118 people arrested on a total of 819 charges.
“We will continue to provide police with the funding, resources and powers they need to enable them to continue to monitor and crack down on all people involved in the drug trade in this state.”
Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 0439 673 287