Mount Isa residents are being asked to help Crime Stoppers Queensland and the Queensland Police Service disrupt the manufacture and supply of drugs by reporting anything they know about drug-dealing offences.
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On Thursday Crime Stoppers launched their Dob in a Dealer campaign on the grounds of the Civic Centre in Mount Isa.
The Federally funded national campaign focuses on Mount Isa for the next two weeks however the campaign runs until February 2019.
Crime Stoppers invites the local community to help police intervene with criminals and organised crime gangs responsible for the manufacture and supply of dangerous drugs and alleviate the cost to local communities by dobbing in a dealer.
Crime Stoppers Queensland CEO, Trevor O’Hara said we’re not asking you to dob in your mates.
“We’re asking you to be a mate, and look after the welfare for friends, family and colleagues by reporting to Crime Stoppers anything you have seen or heard that could relate to the import, manufacture or supply of illicit drugs.
“This is the second Dob in a Dealer campaign we have run, the first was in 2016 and was hugely successful hence we’re running it again,” he said.
One in four of reports made to Crime Stoppers Queensland in Mount Isa were ICE related in 2017.
The supply of illicit drugs including methylamphetamine (ICE), cocaine, MDMA, heroin and cannabis impact on healthcare and law enforcement costing millions of dollars.
You don’t have to have the complete story, just a small piece of information could be the missing piece of the puzzle.
- Crime Stoppers Queensland CEO, Trevor O’Hara
Mr O’Hara said you don’t have to have the complete story, just a small piece of information could be the missing piece of the puzzle.
Senior Sergeant Renee Hanrahan from the Queensland Police Service said they are the beneficiary of all the valuable intelligence that comes through Crime Stoppers.
“Ice and other drug use is a concern to all the community and it’s not a job we can do alone, we really need to rely on people who have those small pieces of the puzzle.
“It might seem like only a small piece of information that you have to share but if someone else has also rung with another small piece of information that validates intelligence we already have then we can move forward.
Deputy Mayor Phil Barwick said weapons like this campaign in the war against drugs are very important.
“I say weapons because I believe this is a form of terrorism, its so insidious in the community and the country.
“It wrecks, families, careers, properties. It’s doing the same thing as any other act of terrorism does.”
“Often times family are connected so they’re too scared to say anything because of the repercussions, so I suggest people think seriously about it. Crime stoppers is anonymous,” he said.
If you have any information about someone who is manufacturing or dealing drugs, you can anonymously call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppers.com.au.
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