Fighting the drug war

[boulder]

Vigilent policing and public input continue to form a winning combination against illegal drugs.

A combined police and community effort is one of the major factors behind a series of recent cannabis hauls in the northern Barossa region, which have seen hundreds of kilograms of drugs kept off the streets.

Three major busts have been carried out in the Eudunda policing district since December 2003, on rural properties at World's End, Brownlow and Bower. They follow regular smaller busts in the Eudunda, Kapunda and Freeling areas and in total have resulted in the seizure and destruction of more than 5000 cannabis plants.

The first large haul occurred on December 12, when 201 plants were discovered at a property at World's End near Robertstown. Two weeks later a raid on a Brownlow property netted another 259 plants, and nine days ago a sophisticated cultivation operation was halted by the discovery of 4500 seedlings on a property at Brownlow.

The scope of the crop astounded the general public, and reinforced the ongoing intelligence work carried out by Barossa LSA officers.

Senior Sergeant Martin Kennedy said the increase in country cannabis operations had been flagged by officers at the time of legislative changes regarding the sale of hydroponics equipment.

"The changes in legislation ensure that hydroponically-grown cannabis charges must now be dealt with by the court, which means a police record," he said.

"Previously there were a lot of city hydroponics set-ups in homes but now there are more of this type of operation grown outside."

SSGT Kennedy said the location of the recent finds is also no surprise, considering the sparseness of settlement in the Eudunda region.

"Let's face it, you're not going to find 150 cannabis plants in the middle of the Barossa, where everyone can see into their neighbour's yard," he said.

"They go out there because it's isolated, which is the biggest factor, and also because land is readily available and relatively low in price."

While police have continued to keep a watchful eye on the region, SSGT Kennedy said input from the public was the key to locating the cultivation operations.

"The response from the community has been excellent and while it continues, we'll keep finding them and help lower the level of drugs out on the street," he said.

"We need people to contact us when they see anything unusual, so we can conduct our investigations accordingly. We will act on it ? perhaps not immediately, but it adds to our store of information. We collate every piece of information we receive, then put those pieces together."

The continuing local finds have made local officers even more determined in their efforts to halt the drug industry in the state, providing proof of the impact successful community policing can have.

"The destruction of 4500 seedlings will make a dent on cannabis production in this area, and if we keep making busts like this we can make a dent on cannabis availability in the state," he said.

"And when we make a bust like this, we seize everything ? the equipment and the crop ? which if it doesn't stop them, at least slows them down. It's very expensive to start up these operations and they have to find a lot of money before they can set themselves up again."

 

http://barossa.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp...6657&y=2004&m=2

Edited February 19, 2004 by boulder

[free choice]

hey you ALL you self righteous COPS & LEOs ... get stoned ....

 

you don't even know what you're doing .... or why it's wrong...

 

how about seeing the other side for a change .. discover the truth of why people like the stuff...

what's the matter with you ?... too blinkered & opinionated to have an open mind ...

 

ask yourself this question .... what is it about Cannabis , that real ordinary everyday people like about it ....

 

& I dare you to try some .... I double double dare you....

it hasn't ( doesn't & won't ) kill anyone ... & you may just need a good laugh .. ::

 

if you really want to know the truth for a change... find out for your self.

Edited February 21, 2004 by free choice

[El_Badass]

for real! you tell em Free Choice!!