Tasmania Police is ramping up the fight against illicit drugs with a significant, multi-agency operation targeting supply – and two new recruits.
The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to strengthening Tasmania’s response to the problems posed by drugs in our community, particularly crystalline methamphetamine, commonly known as ice.
We know most methamphetamines enter the State through the post on commercial airlines, and that’s why we are investing in two additional drug and money detector dogs as police increase their efforts to cut supply.
Operation Intercept will target access points and methods of importation.
This will see a dedicated team working in collaboration with other Australian law enforcement and policing organisations.
The two new drug and money detector dogs, meanwhile, will be in addition to Aggie and Yardley, two 15-month-old Labradors already in training at the Police Academy to replace a duo of retiring veterans.
They are among a range of initiatives by the Government to address the scourge of ice and other drugs in Tasmania.
Earlier this month, the Minister for Corrections announced the establishment of the Alcohol and Drug Treatment Unit at Risdon Prison, which will offer a 12-week live-in program for inmates.
In the wider community, we are investing an additional $4.8 million over four years in 12 new residential rehabilitation beds, with a priority on delivering a residential rehabilitation program based on the North-West.
Further, the Government will consider amendments to the Sentencing Act 1997 to enable Drug Treatment Orders to be issued in the Supreme Court.
We will pursue the organised criminal groups that are responsible for much of the drug trade through Unexplained Wealth legislation, and we have allocated $1.3 million in the Budget to resource prosecutions arising from those investigations.
This cross-agency response shows that we take the supply and use of illicit drugs – and their effects on our community – very seriously.
We are strengthening our ability to detect and intercept drugs entering Tasmania, while also providing greater help for those struggling with addictions to recover and rebuild their lives.
While the former Labor-Green Government cut 108 police officers, we are committed to a well-resourced and equipped police service.
That’s why we are not only continuing to deliver on our policy of rebuilding Tasmania Police by restoring officer numbers to 1228 by 2018, we are also investing in other capabilities, such as these drug detector dogs.
By maintaining fiscal discipline across the State Budget, we are able to invest in essential services like policing and community safety – and especially in new initiatives aimed at addressing the problem of the drug ice in our community.
More Media Releases from the Minister for Police and Emergency Management