Tag Archives: oceania

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Man arrested while playing pokies during major drug operation

Queensland Police have arrested 12 people as part of a state first operation to tackle the illegal drug trade via social media.

Operation Uniform Riding was launched over concerns of drug trafficking in south-east Queensland, with detectives from the Logan Major and Organised Crime Squad posing as customers on platforms like Me We.

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Video released by Queensland Police shows the arrest of one of the men while he was using the pokie machines at a pub in Inala, Brisbane.

Police handcuffed the man in front of the pokie machines, escorting him outside to the police vehicle.

The 36-year-old has been charged for trafficking and supplying methylamphetamine, MDMA and cannabis.

Another 40-year-old Brisbane man was arrested in a Tingalpa shopping centre car park for allegedly trafficking, supplying and possessing cocaine.

"Have you got anything on you you shouldn't have, in terms of other drugs or money or weapons or knives or anything like that?" police are heard asking the man in footage of the arrest.

A number of drugs were seized during the investigation.

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"During their months of covert action, officers purchased various quantities of dangerous drugs including cannabis, cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, magic mushrooms and sweets infused with THC," police said.

Eleven search warrants were executed in Brisbane at around 5pm yesterday in surrounding regions.

Ten more people, aged in their 20s to 40s, have been arrested as part of the investigation.

"This operation demonstrates that the anonymous nature of social media platforms is a myth," Organised Crime Gangs Group Commander, Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith said.

"Law enforcement adapts to challenges to keep the community safe and bring offenders to justice.

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"Offenders need to know that their customer could be a law-enforcement officer and the only way to ensure they are not prosecuted is to stop offending".

The 36-year-old Inala man will appear in court July 12 and the 40-year-old Tingalpa man will appear in court July 18.

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Man goes to police after young woman seriously injured in hit-and-run

A man has attended a police station after a young woman was seriously injured when she was hit by a car, whose driver fled the scene, in Melbourne's west.

The crash occurred during horror 48 hours on Victoria's roads, in which five lives were lost in Buxton, Thornhill Park, Bundoora, Geelong and Flynn.

A 21-year-old woman was crossing Leakes Road in Tarneit near the intersection of Penrose Promenade around 5.45pm yesterday when she was hit by a white sedan.

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The driver did not stop the car after striking the woman, and instead sped away from the scene in an easterly direction towards Derrimut Road.

Another motorist stopped to help the woman and called for an ambulance.

The Tarneit woman was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious condition with a head injury.

A Tarneit man, aged in his 20s, this morning approached police.

He has this afternoon been released pending further inquiries.

Anyone with dashcam vision or who was in the area at the time is urged to contact police.

A 55-year-old driver was killed in Flynn in Victoria's east this morning after he pulled over to help another motorist with a flat tyre about 8.20am.

The Rosedale man stopped his car on the Princes Highway, near the intersection of Rights Lane, before he was struck by an oncoming car as he stood by his car.

The driver of the car, a 23-year-old Rosedale man, stopped immediately and is assisting police.

Another pedestrian was hit and killed in Geelong at about 7pm yesterday.

The 55-year-old Corio man was struck by the truck at the intersection of Latrobe Terrace and Aberdeen Street.

He was taken to hospital with life-threatening-injuries and died.

The truck driver stopped at the scene and is helping police with their enquiries.

The circumstances surrounding the collision will be investigated.

Victoria Police issues 'critical road safety alert'

Police have issued a 'critical road safety alert' today, warning that the next two weeks have in the past been an especially high-risk period for deaths and serious injuries sustained on the roads.

From June 19 to July 4 last year 18 people were killed on Victorian roads.

Assistant Commissioner Road Policing Glenn Weir has warned drivers: "Now is not the time to be complacent when getting behind the wheel".

"Slowing down, remaining alert and being extra cautious when roads are wet or visibility is affected are simple, but life-saving measures all motorists can take to protect themselves and other road users," he said.

"Police will remain highly visible and on the lookout for any risky driver behaviour. We are determined to do everything we can to ensure this period does not become synonymous with road trauma."