Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of drugs have been seized by police during the latest in a series of searches across Launceston.
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Six people have been charged with trafficking over the past two weeks, with police seizing nearly half a kilogram of ice valued at roughly $140,000, about a thousand ecstasy pills worth nearly $30,000, and quantities of heroin, cannabis and steroids.
The latest search on Wednesday morning comes less than a month after nearly half a million dollars worth of drugs were seized from properties at Newstead and Killafaddy Road.
Police believe all of the drugs were intended for the Tasmanian market.
The searches also uncovered a significant amount of property believed to have been stolen.
In the past month alone, 13 firearms have been seized, as well as ammunition, a motorboat, motorcycles, power tools, bicycles, furniture, and stolen fuel cards.
Detective Acting Inspector Craig Fox put it down to “good police work”.
“There has been really good detective work in the last four weeks especially, but it’s part of an ongoing process, we’re always investigating drug-related crime, and looking at trying to recover stolen firearms, and stolen property,” he said.
“We hope that traffickers get the message that Tasmania isn't a place to bring in drugs and if you do, there’s a very good chance you will be caught.”
A 37-year-old West Launceston man, a 37-year-old Melbourne man, a 32-year-old George Town man, a 23-year-old Burnie woman, a 21-year-old Norwood man and a 39-year-old St Leonards man have been charged with trafficking.
A 36-year-old man and a 39-year-old man were charged over the raids last month.
Charges have also been laid in relation to stolen items.
“Two people have been charged with a number of crimes including possessing stolen property, business burglary, motor vehicle burglary, stealing, dealing with the proceeds of crime, and breaching bail,” Detective Acting Inspector Fox said.
It is expected further charges will be laid, with police continuing their investigations.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.
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