POLICE have seized more than $1 million in ice, ecstasy and LSD in what's been hailed as one of Launceston's biggest drug busts.
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In four raids over the past 10 days detectives intercepted more valued at more than $700,000, 7600 ecstasy pills, along with two stolen firearms and a small amount of acid from homes in Launceston.
The seizures were the culmination of the three-month-long Operation Crimson.
The drugs were thought to be trafficked in from Victoria, however, police would not detail how they arrived for operational reasons.
Operation Crimson, targeting ice imported from interstate, follows a series of Northern police operations that have seized some $4.5 million in drugs in recent years.
Yesterday Launceston CIB Detective Inspector Scott Flude said four people had been charged with trafficking and more arrests were expected.
The large quantity of ecstasy comes after a relative ``drought'' in Tasmania.
``We've haven't seen ecstasy in any quantity here in Tasmania for a long time now,'' Detective Inspector Flude said.
``So to seize this many tablets is pleasing for us.''
The scale of the bust is expected to put a large dent in drug trafficking and major crime in the North.
``This is pretty significant _ there's upward of 7600 ecstasy tablets there, 719 grams (of ice),'' he said.
``I strongly believe targeted operations have a significant effect on organised crime such as this.
``People involved in (ice), using and distributing methamphetamine, are generally involved in other crimes.''
Operation Crimson follows targeted drug crackdowns such as Operation Dorothy and Dizzy.
Northern Commander Richard Cowling said the Launceston CIB's approach was working very well.
It is understood that within the CIB a dedicated group of detectives create a ``targeting cell'' of suspected offenders and from that focus on an individual or group.
``By targeting the crooks, working on them for a period of time and then getting it when it's right, works very well,'' Commander Cowling said.
``In the Northern district in the last three years we've deliberately done targeted operations over a longer period of time.
``So they've been more complex but the results far outweigh what we've done in the past.''
Detective Inspector Flude said the drug ring was reasonably sophisticated but police were able to swoop before the drugs were distributed.
Police were tipped off by a member of the public before establishing Operation Crimson.
The recovered firearms included a rifle and a revolver.