❓ Mr. Castrilli asks about government support for police efforts to combat drugs in the South West. The Minister details Operation Collective's successes, including seizures and arrests, highlighting community intelligence as key.
AnsweredQoN 113Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — DRUGS — OPERATION COLLECTIVE
113. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI to the Minister
for Police:
The scourge of drugs impacts on all Western Australians and,
unfortunately, regional Western Australia is not immune. Can the minister
advise the house on how the Liberal–National government is supporting Western
Australia Police in ridding drugs from the south west community?
113. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI to the Minister
for Police:
The scourge of drugs impacts on all Western Australians and,
unfortunately, regional Western Australia is not immune. Can the minister
advise the house on how the Liberal–National government is supporting Western
Australia Police in ridding drugs from the south west community?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bunbury for the question. When he retires from
this place, I will certainly miss collaborating with the member on law and
order issues and other issues in the seat of Bunbury.
I am very pleased to
take this opportunity to inform the house of the amazing successes of our
awesome team of WA Police detectives in the south west district. They have been
targeting drug dealing and other illegal activity in the south west. Out of the
intelligence that has been gathered by police, certainly intelligence that has
been put forward by the local community, concerned citizens reporting to Crime
Stoppers and other avenues, the police launched Operation Collective in the
south west. That resulted last week in a coordinated effort across the whole
district through the serving of 51 search warrants. Out of those search
warrants, police located and seized quantities of methamphetamine, cannabis,
LSD, magic mushrooms, steroids, synthetic cannabis, a replica AK‑47, and
sawn-off .22 calibre rifle and homemade silencer, a stolen air rifle, pipes and
other smoking implements, and other items associated with the cultivation and
use of drugs. This was a significant operation and a significant seizure. I am
really pleased with the efforts of police in the south west. Out of those
search warrants, 58 people have been charged with 151 charges—things
ranging from possessing and cultivating drugs with intent to sell or supply,
possession of drugs or drugs paraphernalia, possession of controlled weapons
and firearms, stealing, fraud and unlawful possession of goods.
The key to this effort was a little bit of old-fashioned policing that
the Leader of the Opposition was calling for. We never abandoned old-fashioned
policing, particularly that community in the south west, through their
intelligence gathering efforts and calls from the community, have resulted in
this very significant seizure and interruption to the flow, cultivation and manufacture
of drugs in the south west district.
We will continue to highlight the efforts of our police right across
the state. They deserve praise and recognition in this place of the work that
they undertake on behalf of the community. Certainly, the members for Bunbury
and Vasse will be pleased to know that police will soon be launching the next
phase of Operation Collective, no doubt targeting the second wave —
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Can you wind up, please, minister.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : The next phase of Operation Collective will
target these drug dealers. Clearly, member for Girrawheen, there are enough
detectives.
this place, I will certainly miss collaborating with the member on law and
order issues and other issues in the seat of Bunbury.
I am very pleased to
take this opportunity to inform the house of the amazing successes of our
awesome team of WA Police detectives in the south west district. They have been
targeting drug dealing and other illegal activity in the south west. Out of the
intelligence that has been gathered by police, certainly intelligence that has
been put forward by the local community, concerned citizens reporting to Crime
Stoppers and other avenues, the police launched Operation Collective in the
south west. That resulted last week in a coordinated effort across the whole
district through the serving of 51 search warrants. Out of those search
warrants, police located and seized quantities of methamphetamine, cannabis,
LSD, magic mushrooms, steroids, synthetic cannabis, a replica AK‑47, and
sawn-off .22 calibre rifle and homemade silencer, a stolen air rifle, pipes and
other smoking implements, and other items associated with the cultivation and
use of drugs. This was a significant operation and a significant seizure. I am
really pleased with the efforts of police in the south west. Out of those
search warrants, 58 people have been charged with 151 charges—things
ranging from possessing and cultivating drugs with intent to sell or supply,
possession of drugs or drugs paraphernalia, possession of controlled weapons
and firearms, stealing, fraud and unlawful possession of goods.
The key to this effort was a little bit of old-fashioned policing that
the Leader of the Opposition was calling for. We never abandoned old-fashioned
policing, particularly that community in the south west, through their
intelligence gathering efforts and calls from the community, have resulted in
this very significant seizure and interruption to the flow, cultivation and manufacture
of drugs in the south west district.
We will continue to highlight the efforts of our police right across
the state. They deserve praise and recognition in this place of the work that
they undertake on behalf of the community. Certainly, the members for Bunbury
and Vasse will be pleased to know that police will soon be launching the next
phase of Operation Collective, no doubt targeting the second wave —
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Can you wind up, please, minister.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : The next phase of Operation Collective will
target these drug dealers. Clearly, member for Girrawheen, there are enough
detectives.
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