Police vs drug dealers: Is there an end in sight?

Every day lately there are news reports about drug dealers being raided, huge quantities of ice and other drugs being found, and lots and lots of money.

Just the other day a new government policy was announced: dob in a dealer. The TV news reader finished the report with, ‘There’ll be more arrests in weeks to come’. But what’s the point if the dealers are promptly back on the streets or at home keeping their drug production going?

A friend of mine tells me a police relative of his says basically the only way to deal with this ice issue is media attention to make the justice system more sensible. It can take years to get a conviction as the dealers make so much money they can and do pay for good lawyers. 

The commitment of police time and money and the subsequent lack of penalty and imprisonment are laughable.

After regular police raids, with many officers, vehicles and dogs involved, the people at a property in Greenbank, are still dealing drugs, including ice, to a constant stream of visitors.

One recent raid of the Greenbank property was the subject of an article in The Jimboomba Times early in July this year.

Just recently, two paddy wagons, a police sedan and a dog squad were at the house. Some men were taken away but they were back at the house within two hours. At least seven officers had spent more than two hours at the house. Later the same evening two paddy wagons were at the house for some time.

In another raid at least three officers and two cars were at the house for a minimum of two hours. Drugs, implements and tasers were found. Someone was taken away but he was back in no time. Previously, maybe around May, the owner was caught with $30,000 worth of drugs and drug materials.

Last year in a raid, police removed firearms from the premises and someone was taken away for a while. Again multiple cars and police officers were in attendance. In the last nine months or so, there would have been more than six incidents of the police attending at this place.

This is costing a small fortune for just one dealer and after at least a year and multiple charges he is still free and still dealing. But when a couple of delinquents take an echidna in a drunken prank…

What can be done when the drug dealers face little or no penalty? Is the problem with lawyers, or the law, or the magistrates? Any ideas?

To write for Starts at 60, register your interest here.