operation gradient reaching new heights - Queensland Police Union

Queensland Police Union Journal Mar 10 North Coast Region • 7
Peddlers of illicit drugs are responsible for the victims
of crime that result from their trade. They are also
responsible for the heartache caused to many families
when a bad trip leaves a loved one cold. Traffickers buy,
sell and swap in evil regardless of the cost to others.
Their bottom line is a constant flow of cash that they will
launder.
Des Hansson
Who protects the community when
the criminal justice system fails?
I know how hard our colleagues in the branch work,
I’ve seen them in action and quite often you see
the results of their diligence reported in the local
newspaper. I read recently of our local detectives
busting a major drug ring in the Sunshine Coast
District.
As a result of raids on several properties, $148,000
worth of illicit drugs, including ecstasy, cocaine,
amphetamines and cannabis, were seized. More than
$700,000 in property was retained as proceeds of crime
along with $60,000 in cash.
“ Now I realise that we don’t
always have a win in every matter,
but in this instance not one of
those ten accused were remanded
in custody ”
Great news you say, I agree. However I later learned that
ten of the offenders arrested were considered by police
to be at risk of re-offending. Objections to bail were then
completed for those alleged offenders and put before
the court.
“ Two of the offenders allegedly
made threats to harm police
during the operation closure ”
Now I realise that we don’t always have a win in every
matter, but in this instance not one of those ten accused
were remanded in custody.
This group are allegedly no average small-time crooks.
At least five of them allegedly have previous convictions
for drug trafficking. One was on Supreme Court bail for
similar offences. Another offender was on two lots of
court bail for two other drug trafficking charges. Two
of the offenders allegedly made threats to harm police
during the operation closure.
This group of offenders allegedly made a conscious
decision to traffick in drugs.
The community, which includes police, deserve
protection from this modern scourge on our society.
The laws are by no means lenient in any respect in
relation to drug trafficking which attracts maximum
sentences of 20 years or even 25 years jail for dealing
to minors. It is predominately our youth, that we, as
enforcers of the law are sworn to protect.
In the meantime, keep on locking up those who break
the law. Walk into any school, hotel, barber shop or
just about anywhere else and the vast majority of our
community know and respect the good work of police.
It’s a shame that our judiciary appear to have forgotten
they work for the same community we do.
Anyway, be careful out there.
Des Hansson
North Coast Regional Representative
0412 707 434
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