An ICY retirement in NSW

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Drug testing in NSW and a record liquid methamphetamine bust has made the headlines across Australia in the past week. Credit Highway Patrol Images https://www.flickr.com/photos/special-fx/4690901400/

A police roadside operation in NSW over the weekend, which included drug and alcohol testing, has sent another reminder that when it comes to drug use and drug possession, age is no barrier.

Operation Chrome was held across the South West Metropolitan Region and regional areas of NSW between Friday and Saturday, targeting criminal activity and poor driver behaviour on the roads. During the operation, drug and alcohol testing was carried out, with 551 random alcohol tests and 144 random drug tests being conducted. Six people failed the NSW alcohol testing, while a further 12 failed the drug testing. A further eight people were charged, allegedly, for being found with prohibited drugs in their possession.

NSW Police has said that the drug and alcohol testing and Operation Chrome will continue across the state over the summer period.

In a press release, Acting Superintendent Robert Toynton from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said, “We are making state-wide preparations to be on the road in numbers over the Summer months, and Operation Chrome is one of many traffic enforcement operations being conducted.

“People continue to ignore our warnings and get behind the wheel when affected by alcohol and drugs, or engage in criminal behaviour, and police will not tolerate it. These types of high-visibility strategies will continue to prevent and disrupt criminal behaviour before it happens.”

An interesting lowlight of the operation on the weekend was when a 67-year-old man tested positive during drug testing. A search was conducted and NSW Police allegedly located over 12 kilograms of the drug ICE in the man’s sock and in a box concealed under the driver’s seat. While most people have retired by the time they have reached 67, clearly this man hasn’t!

Proving that drugs doesn’t discriminate when it comes to age, NSW Police also arrested a 17-year-old man. He didn’t fail drug testing, but when searched he was found with the drug MDMA, often called ecstasy, in his wallet and his vehicle.

See the NSW Police website for full details.

AFP also busy finding drugs

It’s not just the NSW Police staying busy with drug busts. So too have the Australian Federal Police or the AFP.

Last week they charged found people in Victoria after the largest liquid methamphetamine import bust. The 560 kilograms of the drug was found stashed inside mustard bottles. The liquid methamphetamine had a street value of a staggering $123 million.

As well as preventing the drugs from hitting the streets, the AFP also found the group’s laboratory.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Southern Command Bruce Giles said the record seizure was a clear warning to criminals that law enforcement remained one step ahead.

“Today we have stopped what is Victoria’s largest liquid methamphetamine haul, dead in its tracks,” he said. “These criminals continue to prey on our community, causing drug–related crime and misery, along with associated health and social costs.

IMAGE CAPTION:

Drug testing in NSW and a record liquid methamphetamine bust has made the headlines across Australia in the past week. Credit Highway Patrol Images https://www.flickr.com/photos/special-fx/4690901400/

By Michael

Michael is the founder of Integrity Sampling and is responsible for overseeing all national operations. He is based at Integrity Sampling's head office in Melbourne and is also responsible for the co-ordination of drug and alcohol testing within Victoria, assisting in the implementation of drug and alcohol (fit for work) policies and the presentation of drug and alcohol education and awareness programs. You can connect with Michael Wheeldon on LinkedIn

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