Operation Vikings

[Oz]

More than 25 people have been arrested after a two-day multi-agency sweep marking the second anniversary of police Operation Vikings.

 

The campaign, conducted in inner, northern and western Sydney, the Tweed and Byron Bay in northern NSW and in Albury, in the state's south, targeted drugs, concealed weapons, anti-social behaviour, street crime and violence.

 

The Vikings unit, highway patrol, dog squad, mounted police and local area commands were joined by officers from the Roads and Traffic Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, the adolescent unit of the Community Services department, Naval police and Sydney City Council parking rangers.

 

NSW officers were also assisted by Queensland police in the Tweed/Bryon area.

 

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Goodwin said 25 people were arrested during the two-night blitz in inner-Sydney Surry Hills alone.

 

They face 37 charges laid for drugs, assault, resisting arrest and drink driving and traffic offences.

 

Fifty-five people were searched on the street and in nightclubs after being identified by drug dogs, with 15 of them charged with a total 22 drugs offences.

 

Results from the other operations would be released later Sunday and Monday.

 

Among those swept up in the operation was a 42-year-old man from Sydney's La Perouse, who had not held a drivers licence for 25 years. The man will be barred from applying for another licence until 2024.

 

"We won't tolerate people intent on causing problems and we won't hesitate to use the law to protect the community," Mr Goodwin said.

 

NSW Police Minister John Watkins said the two-year Operation Vikings had resulted in a total of 3,929 arrests and 5,454 charges.

 

Mr Watkins said 7,180 trains, 603 buses and 159 ferries had been patrolled, as had 8,450 licensed premises.

 

A total of 146,225 vehicles had been stopped and police had conducted 12,346 weapons searches.

 

"Operation Vikings has proven to be an exceptional strategy, targeting an issue that concerns us all - anti-social behaviour and crime on the streets," Mr Watkins said.

 

By AAP

Date: 16/05/04

Source: The Age

Copyright: 2004. The Age Company Ltd.

[BlazinMarty]

wow they busted a bunch of pill poppers out for a good time!