Police have today closed a major operation targeting the trafficking of methylamphetamine in the Cairns area, Queensland Police say.
Operation Oscar Plectrum was commenced by officers from Innisfail CIB and investigated with the assistance of the Cairns Drug Squad.
The operation was conducted over two days with the assistance of officers from Edmonton, Smithfield, Mareeba and Innisfail CIB, Far North Tactical Crime Squad, the Stock and Rural Crime Investigation Squad and the Cairns Property Crime Squad.
A total of 16 search warrants were conducted across Cairns including residences in Kanimbla, Woree, Machans Beach, Redlynch, Aeroglen, Manoora, Mooroobool, White Rock and Bungalow.
Prosecutions have been commenced against a total of 14 people who are to appear on a total of 72 charges for drug and property offences. This includes a 44-year-old Kanimbla man charged with one count of trafficking dangerous drugs and one count of producing a dangerous drug, a 35-year-old Redlynch man charged with producing a dangerous drug, possessing a dangerous drug (cannabis and methylamphetamine,) and possessing a weapon. A 44-year-old Aeroglen man was also charged with possessing a restricted weapon and possessing a category H weapon.
During the operation, police seized $192,500 in cash, 63 cannabis plants, more than 16 kilograms of cannabis, four weapons and an amount of methylamphetamine.
All will appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court over the coming weeks.
Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.
