Drug busts help cops break supply chain

Great Southern police say they have disrupted local drug supply with a series of busts in the region, seizing 61g of cocaine in a single haul and confiscating several kilograms of cannabis.

Just before 10pm last Thursday, a 29-year-old Denmark man was stopped by police while driving along Albany Highway in North Bannister.

A search of his vehicle uncovered two bags containing a total of 61g of cocaine, which police allege was destined for distribution in the Great Southern area.

That amount of cocaine would likely have a street value of more than $15,000.

A search of the Denmark man’s house resulted in the seizure of 1.4kg of cannabis leaf material, seeds and other drug-related items.

The man was refused bail in the Perth Magistrate’s Court on Friday and is due to appear in the Albany Magistrate’s Court on January 9.

On the same day, a 33-year-old Katanning man was stopped by police while driving his vehicle on the Albany Highway in North Bannister.

Inside his vehicle, police found two bags of cannabis with a total weight of 454g.

He is scheduled to appear in the Narrogin Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

At 2.50pm on Monday, December 2, a 40-year-old Katanning man was stopped by Williams police driving his vehicle on Albany Highway through the townsite of Williams.

Police found 1.32kg of cannabis in his vehicle which they allege was destined for sale throughout the Great Southern.

The man was charged by Narrogin police and is due to appear in the Narrogin Magistrate’s Court next Tuesday.

About 11.30pm on December 3, a 22-year-old Narrogin man was stopped in his vehicle on Great Southern Highway in Narrogin.

During a search of his vehicle, police found 310g of cannabis which was also allegedly destined for distribution.

The Narrogin man is due to appear in the Narrogin Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Narrogin police Senior Sgt John Bouwman said members of the public were urged to provide information about illicit drugs through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

“While this does occur regularly, this past week has culminated in a number of larger drug seizures which will disrupt some supplies in our community,” Sen. Sgt Bouwman said.