Nimbin targeted in drug raids as police seize 2kg of cannabis

[OZ Stoners]

Two kilograms of cannabis has been seized in drug raids targeting the entire town of Nimbin in northern New South Wales.

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Nimbin targeted in drug raids as police seize 2kg of cannabis

 

September 11, 2014, 6:24 pm

 

ABC Police arrested eight people as part of Operation Oleary in and around Nimbin.

Two kilograms of cannabis has been seized in drug raids targeting the entire town of Nimbin in northern New South Wales.

Officers arrested eight people after allegedly finding the drugs in a cafe and bookshop in the village.

Further raids uncovered cannabis plants at a property in nearby Jiggi.

Police allege the stores were being used to sell a range of drugs like cannabis and LSD.

More than 70 police officers carried out the raids after a six-month investigation which will continue with sniffer dog patrols.

Police Commander Greg Martin said stamping out Nimbin's well-known drug trade would require a much bigger effort.

"It would be a significant police presence every day of every week of every year until the demand side of the equation lessened," he said.

"Because that's what it's all about, supply and demand.

"We have two buses that go there every day from the coast... with overseas tourists who think they can go there and buy drugs legally.

"We know that it won't be long before it's business as usual, but we're not going to go away."

Commander Martin said the operation had dismantled a criminal group that police alleged was responsible for supplying significant amounts of drugs throughout the Nimbin area.

"As long as it's the law that these drugs are illegal, we'll be enforcing the law," he said.

"It's not just about cannabis - we're not just picking on a few old hippies, which is a common issue that is put to us.

"It's about all these other drugs, and it's about the effect it has on the community."

He said 70 police were needed for safety reasons and to comply with risk assessments.

"The way things work these days with risk assessments and everything and conducting three simultaneous search warrants in separate locations, you need that many people," he said.

Police expect to make further arrests

[The Stoned Jester]

oh wow they are even now trying to stamp out nimbin ... that wont go down too well with the locals

[Sir PsychoHashy]

Reading that shite you'd reckon their was some sort of organized crime syndicate running the town, what a load of hyped up bollocks.

 

I know there's some smack addicts that sell weed to support their habit, but there's also a lot of good stoner folk there, and I think it's preferable to have junkies selling weed to breaking into houses and shit.  And lets face it, the Nimbin community is commonly known for being what it is, so nobody is likely to go there if that sort of thing upsets them, so what part of society are they harming?

 

Maybe I'm cynical, but I'm wondering if this might have anything to do with all the recent pro medicinal canna stuff in the news lately, cause it makes good right wing ideologist press, or maybe some property developer has decided that it would be profitable to rebuild the place as a weekend retreat for people on Sydney's North Shore

[sheep_dreamer]

Oh shit. It's gonna be all hands on the tiller down at the HEMP embassy. Someone must have shaken up the hornets nest. What a mess.

[MediKat]

I hope Oz stoners is not on the hit list, crikey. I didn't login officer. What a joke.

[wannagrowbuds]

I have family there, they are sick of cash croppers dealing in the streets. The local community wanted this bust to happen.

[Sir PsychoHashy]

I have family there, they are sick of cash croppers dealing in the streets. The local community wanted this bust to happen.

 

Any chance you would be able to elaborate on this?  Serious question, not having a go at you or your family, just that I would be interested to hear about how the locals do feel about the goings on in Nimbin, rather than the limited public portrayal that everyone does get to hear about.

[wannagrowbuds]

The true locals are into growing their own and sharing with the community, not selling. Clowns openly selling in the street to attract tourists just attracts unwanted attention for the locals who are otherwise pretty much left alone to grow and smoke when and where they want.