Business on drug warning

[boulder]

A Darwin business has been issued with a drug house notice.

 

Police yesterday refused for legal reasons to disclose the name or nature of the firm.

 

The first notice was issued under the Territory Government's tough new anti-drug laws.

 

Police stressed the business had received only one of three notices needed to start court proceedings to have it declared a drug house.

 

Once a property is declared a drug house an irridescent green notice is posted outside.

 

The Northern Territory News has obtained figures that show since April 17, about 464g of cannabis and 143g of amphetamines have been seized by police from suspected drug houses across the NT.

 

Four people have been arrested and another person summonsed during the last month for drug offences.

 

Five infringement notices were also issued during that time. There are now:

 

THIRTY-SIX first notices served on homes in Darwin;

 

TWO second notices served on homes in Darwin;

 

EIGHT first notices served on homes in Alice Springs;

 

SEVEN first notices served on homes in Katherine; TWO first notices served on homes in Tennant Creek.

 

Once a premises is declared a drug house police have the the power to:

 

RAID the premises at any time without a warrant;

 

SEARCH anyone on the premises and seek authorisation to carry out an internal search.

 

FORCE anyone within 200m of the drug house to give their name and address.

 

So far only two homes in the Territory have been officially declared Drug Houses.

 

The Drug House status of the homes in Spencer St, Alice Springs, and Tomaris Court, Darwin, have since been revoked after the occupants moved out.

 

Police last night declined to comment on the success of the Government's drug house legislation introduced on August 1, 2002.

 

Police Minister Paul Henderson said the results clearly showed that the new laws were having an effect.

 

``The Government made a commitment to crack down on the sale and supply of illicit drugs in the community, and the amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act were introduced to target dealers,'' Mr Henderson said.

 

``Police have used the laws to close down well-known dens.''

 

Northern Territory News

[Guest Guest]

Police Minister Paul Henderson said the results clearly showed that the new laws were having an effect.

 

And that would be?

 

Pissing off the majority of property managers in the territory as these fellas move about?

How the fuck did that law get passed?