Less crime during pandemic frees up Mackay police to make more drug busts

The number of break-ins and car thefts has halved in the Mackay region in the month of May, leaving the police more time to investigate drug crimes.

Police statistics for May show unlawful use offences have fallen by 50 per cent, which Detective Inspector Mick Searle attributed, in part, to the coronavirus lockdown.

"Obviously the restriction of movement through the night is helping curtail criminal activity as well."

He said there had been a wide variation in crime figures between April and May.

"There are the combined factors of targeted operations on property crime and the realism of the situation we find ourselves in."

Massive jump in drug crimes

Queensland Police Service data showed that in the Mackay police district, the number of drug offences was the highest monthly total in 15 years.

There were 578 drug charges laid in the month, compared to 365 in April.

Drug offences made up more than one-third of all charges in the district in May.

Detective Inspector Searle said that can be attributed to a number of long-running operations being finalised.

"There was an operation in Moranbah and Clermont that started in September last year, which concluded over last month," he said.

During the final stages of Operation Romeo Cyber, police executed 20 search warrants over 14 days in Clermont, Moranbah, Dysart, Emerald, Capella and Bundaberg.

Public information vital

In recent weeks, police have also carried out drug operations in the Pioneer Valley, which included the use of two specially trained police dogs.

Five raids were done as part of the investigation into the supply of methamphetamine and cannabis and involved officers from Marian, Mirani, Eton and Farleigh, as well as the Tactical Crime Squad.

As a result, eight people were charged with 22 offences.

Detective Inspector Searle said the operation was another example of how information from the public could help police combat organised crime.

"Then through investigative work, sometimes luck and people's criminal behaviour, that expands into a larger scale investigation in some cases.

"Any of these larger-scale jobs generally will come initially from someone who provides information to police.

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