Police from the Dalby-Burnett Group arrested twenty people during phase two of a drug operation code-named Operation Quebec Oklahoma targeting the trafficking of methylamphetamine (Ice) into Murgon, Cherbourg and the southern Burnett areas.
Operation Quebec Oklahoma was a complex and lengthy operation spanning 13-months and utilised police resources from the across the South West and Moreton policing districts as well as specialist commands from Brisbane.
During the ‘lead-up’ phase of the operation, between January 2018 and early January 2019, police arrested 117 people on 253 charges and seized approximately $21,500 worth of methylamphetamine.
The closure of Phase One of Operation Quebec Oklahoma occurred on January 21 and 22 and saw 15 search warrants executed across the Burnett district resulting in 20 people charged with 491 offences, including seven people charged with trafficking methylamphetamine. Significant quantities of methylamphetamine and cannabis were seized by police.
The closure of Phase Two of the operation, which occurred between February 7 and 8, 2019 saw police execute 20 search warrants at various locations throughout the Burnett district resulting in 20 people charged with 36 offences. Including three people charged with possessing dangerous drugs, two with weapons offences and one person charged with producing dangerous drugs. Police seized three rifles, methylamphetamine, cannabis and drug paraphernalia and utensils.
Detective Inspector Mat Kelly, Crime and Support Services, South West District said police were confident that Operation Quebec Oklahoma, conducted over the past 13-months has severed the current distribution channel of methylamphetamine into Murgon and Cherbourg and disrupted the supply into other parts of the South Burnett.
“We remain committed to removing Ice and other dangerous drugs from our communities and although we’ve finalised this operation our efforts will continue to detect and disrupt the supply of dangerous drugs in the south west.”
The below media release was issued on January 22 – please note the above arrest and charges figures as the most up to date.
Police have closed a major drug operation in the Dalby-Burnett Patrol Group focussed on the distribution of the dangerous drug Ice in and around the Kingaroy, Murgon and Cherbourg areas.
The year-long operation has included a series of rolling search warrants and vehicle interceptions aimed at disrupting the supply of ice to the area.
This culminated in 15 search warrants being executed at premises across the Burnett area in the last two days, resulting in the arrest of seven people who were charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs and over 450 counts of supplying dangerous drugs.
To date, the operation has netted a total of 111 offenders who have been charged with 695 offences.
Detective Inspector Paul Hart said police believe the apprehension of the main targets of this operation over the last two days has successfully dismantled a major drug supply network.
“This has been a lengthy and complex operation utilising resources from the South West and Moreton District as well as specialist commands and we have left no stone unturned in our efforts to disrupt and dismantle this network,” Detective Inspector Hart.
“The closure of this operation will provide the communities of Kingaroy, Murgon and Cherbourg the opportunity to really take a stand against drugs and make their towns safer and healthier places.”
Over the 12 months of the operation, police estimate around $170,000 worth of dangerous drugs including ice and methylamphetamine were seized.
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