Nimbin's drugs are back in sights ...

[Budman2012]

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Thought I should post this up ...

From the Northern Star.

Link - http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2010/...back-in-sights/

 

Strike Force Farrelly co-ordinator Detective Senior Sergeant Alex Dipple loads marijuana plants seized in the Nimbin area this week.

 

LOW-FLYING helicopters returned to Nimbin this week as part of Strike Force Farrelly's ongoing cannabis eradication program.

 

Drug Squad officers seized 350 plants valued at $700,000 on Monday and expected a similar haul yesterday.

 

State Crime Command Superintendent Nick Bingham, personally overseeing the operation, was happy with the progress so far.

 

"A lot of these crops are in very isolated locations with treacherous terrain so it can take some time winching officers in and out and extracting the crops," he said.

 

"We're up here for the rest of the week and we hope to have a disruptive effect on the supply of cannabis in Northern NSW and South-East Queensland."

 

Strike Force Farrelly has been operating throughout NSW for more than three months, seizing an estimated $50 million worth of cannabis over that period.

 

Three weeks ago, the strike force targeted the Tweed-Byron Local Area Command confiscating almost 2500 plants, valued at $5 million, in one week.

 

Strike force co-ordinator, Detective Senior Sergeant Alex Dipple, said the joint operation, in conjunction with the Richmond Local Area Command, would run until Friday and would target the whole command from 'end to end'.

 

"We had some issues with the cloud on Monday, but hopefully the weather will hold," he said. "We're appreciating the softer ground up here. It was a lot tougher trying to uproot plants out at Nyngan where the ground was rock hard," he said.

 

While a drug law reform symposium at SCU last week questioned the cost of policing cannabis, Supt Bingham said that was a political issue and his job was to enforce the law.

 

"Cannabis is the most prolific illegal drug used in the country. Some people call it a soft drug, but it causes mental illnesses and breaks up families. Kids also need to know that getting caught can ruin their career opportunities."

 

STRIKE FORCE FARRELLY

 

Polair 1 chopper with special detection. equipment and five crew.

 

Seven officers from the State Crime Command's elite drug squad.

 

Six four-wheel-drive ground support vehicles.

 

Eight officers from the Richmond Local Area Command.

 

Drug sniffer dog squad.

 

Radio communications support officer.

 

 

What else is there to say really. Sigh ...

 

On a related note ... I noticed this:

http://www.nor.com.au/~hemp/media_releases...ease_0107_1.htm

1999 media release from the Hemp Embassy entitled -

NSW Police Minister & Commissioner reply to Helicopter raid Complaints.

 

Worth a read for sure ... this part struck me though ... part of the reply from the Commissioner :

 

Use of helicopters The deployment of police helicopters in drug operations takes place only after cannabis growing sites have been identified from the receipt of police and other intelligence. The maintenance and running costs of helicopters and the specialist skills required to operate them are factors which ensure their use is kept to a minimum. In addition to this, their operation is scrupulously monitored. In Operation Norfolk, helicopters were scheduled for use in daylight hours for five days. Due to wet weather conditions, however, this use was reduced to three days.

 

Is it just me or is this comment (in Bold) a little odd ?

 

Best to read the whole reply for yourself ... but I would think that the above statement suggests they are already aware of the grows before they launch the choppers? So that the Choppers were there just to assist the ground crews to locate the plants already known about??

 

How do they get that particular "intelligence"?

 

 

Maybe this is common knowledge but I always thought the Choppers scanned all the land "searching" for crops ... and that's why they hover back and forth strafing low over large chunks of land for quite a while. Indeed , they are very noisy.

 

 

He specifically says "only" ... This has got to be incorrect but maybe it's half-true. Anyway ... have a read.

 

 

P.s. Sorry for the wierd Formatting of this Post , not sure what happened there

[Kiweed]

Government budgets for this chopper crap are obviously way too big.

 

When the economy really tanks like what is happening in America right now will we see this chopper BS put back where it belongs.

 

BIG GOVERNMENT and POLICE CHOPPERS should be permanently banned.

[raven6]

Hi Bud, Guess you live in my neck of the woods....Im in Byron Bay, luckily my outdoor crop escaped the cops ( so far ) but I heard that have taken a lot of plants from Main Arm road out the back of Mullumbimby

[oz360]

Is it time that the Nimbin region succeeds and separates from the Nation of Australia and becomes a Republic or new Commonwealth nation in it's own accord.

This war on Marijuana is a Human Rights(Medical & Religion) abuse that has gone on for too long in this country. If the United Nations was brought in, who would be charged with Human Rights abuse? The State Premier, the prime minister or the Queen of Australia (Lizzie II)? With an Australian Region treaty, the Australian Military would still need to provide regional safety and security? Yet local laws would prevent NSW/Qld police from flying above or even entering, laws stop at the border. Remember, Gays and Lesbians got their 'Freedom' way in this country via a protest 31 years ago, now Sydney Mardi Gras generates state coffers a lot of money. Nimbin Mardi Gras should do the same - demand Freedom! Remember the Bible(Genesis 1:11,12,29,30) supports ALL Green Herb, the Bible does not support sexual immorality (straight or gay) More people die from Sex than Marijuana. The A.C.T. is the leadership capital of Australia and what happens there should be allowed everywhere.

 

Just remember, keep it peaceful - Terrorists and Surface to Air missiles won't help anyone. People should not live in Fear of their Neighbour or their Government - Australian Law is becoming draconian and satanic

 

[resist]

Why do they always put these stupid huge dollar values on their seizures, like $50 million???? Obviously the cops are not trimming and drying the seizure before weighing it. So they must be weighing the whole plants wet, leaves, stalks and all, then applying the maximum street value of high grade buds. Idiots. Its all just to grab headlines and show everyone what a good job they are doing. ie. "we stopped $50 million of drugs from getting to the children, give us a raise and more choppers"

 

THEY are responsible for making it so valuable in the first place, by keeping it illegal.

[wilderbud]

They headhunt the shit that nature governs - everyone wants to be the fat controller (even you!).

 

Jerry Springer would say; "Live in harmony with nature or die alone, ape'.

 

Fuck the system before it fucks you says the proud celt.

[louise]

Why do they always put these stupid huge dollar values on their seizures, like $50 million???? Obviously the cops are not trimming and drying the seizure before weighing it. So they must be weighing the whole plants wet, leaves, stalks and all, then applying the maximum street value of high grade buds. Idiots. Its all just to grab headlines and show everyone what a good job they are doing. ie. "we stopped $50 million of drugs from getting to the children, give us a raise and more choppers"

 

THEY are responsible for making it so valuable in the first place, by keeping it illegal.

 

If you do the math, the estimates in the article amount to $2000 a plant... hardly unrealistic.

[miccyj]

STRIKE FORCE FARRELLY

 

Polair 1 chopper with special detection. equipment and five crew.

 

Seven officers from the State Crime Command's elite drug squad.

 

Six four-wheel-drive ground support vehicles.

 

Eight officers from the Richmond Local Area Command.

 

Drug sniffer dog squad.

 

Radio communications support officer.

 

Nice to see my tax money being well spent. I was driving along parramatta road today and was wondering why my tax money wasnt fixing fukin pot holes. Now I know. I was going to list stuff they should be spending money on, but why bother, we all know...........