6th February 2002 Operation Tulkarm a success

Police within the Castlereagh LAC conducted an operation called TULKARM from Wednesday, January 30, 2002 until Saturday, February 2, 2002 which targeted the supply and distribution of drugs within the LAC.

Police from the Castlereagh Detectives Western Region TAG Unit and Police Dog Unit were involved in the operation.

The operation involved the execution of search warrants on targeted premises and detection of illegal drugs within licensed premises at Coonamble, Lightning Ridge, Walgett, Collarenebri and Grawin with the assistance of a police drug dog. Search warrants were executed on four premises. As a result of the operation seven persons were charged with 10 charges relating to the Supply/Possession of Prohibited Drugs, Cultivation and Possession of Prohibited Plans; Property Theft and Traffic matters.

Two persons were cautioned for possession of cannabis. Police seized cannabis with an estimated street value of 17,500.

Local Area Commander Castlereagh Superintendent Tony Jefferson said, "The success of these operations is reliant upon community information. As a community we don't want these individuals dealing in drugs and criminal activity, particularly when information is received that dealers are selling to young children.

Operation Tulkarm will continue across the LAC. The drug dealers and criminal elements should take warning that police operations will continue on a regular basis. Decent people are tired of putting up with crime and want action.

"If you want to do drugs and commit crime don't do it in this LAC. You will be arrested and prosecuted. Targets have been identified and the police will be gathering intelligence information from various sources and further arrests will come," Commander Jefferson continued.

A similar operation targeting drug activity was conducted late last year with a number of arrests and the seizure of a significant quantity of drugs and stolen property. These and other operations involved the arrest of a number of locals.