Pubdate: Thu, 19 Oct 2006 Source: Gold Coast Bulletin (Australia) Copyright: 2006 Gold Coast Publications Pty. Ltd Contact: http://www.gcbulletin.com.au/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/620 Author: Peter Cameron ICE AGE DEFINITELY ISN'T COOL RAMPANT drug use and dealing at some unsavoury nightclubs is out of control. The blatant disregard for drug laws includes nightclub staff tipping off patrons when undercover police are on the prowl. Some teenagers are making up to $1000 a night selling amphetamine and ecstasy tablets during nightclub hours. The crazy culture even sees nightclub security staff turning a blind eye to males and females sharing single lavatory cubicles. Lavatory facilities also are used for the preparation and administration of illegal drugs. The nightclub culture gets worse. An investigation has shown: * Ambulance crews struggling to cope with stricken users of amphetamines and cocaine. * Drugged males spoiling for fights around nightclub dance floors. * Terrified females unwilling to enter certain nightclubs. * Irregular police presence in nightclub precincts after 3am. Luckily, all the above came from an investigation by our sister Melbourne tabloid the Herald Sun and centred on an inner southern suburb in the Victorian capital. But police drug raids on nightclubs in Queensland at the weekend indicate our law enforcers are aware of growing problems here. But instead of being applauded for their drug diligence and initiative the Queensland coppers found themselves criticised by civil libertarians. It was 'policing for show' and 'targeting recreational users'. Even the sniffer hounds were in the civil liberties' dog-house for 'embarrassing' nightclub patrons! Short of drug dealers giving themselves up (yeah, right!) the police have to start somewhere. "If you keep arresting people for drug offences sooner or later there is a lead or a trail to a dealer," one senior detective told The Gold Coast Bulletin. NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney recently pinpointed crystal amphetamine 'ice' as a worse problem than heroin and 'the greatest scourge' of his 41-year career. Commissioner Moroney was backed by the Gold Coast Drug Council and NSW magistrates. Bashings, gang rapes and other violence are often attributed to the 'ice' age and the drug's reputation as a psycho-stimulant. The 'iced-up' blockheads cause drama when taken to hospital and tie up valuable ambulance crew hours when they collapse. The Bulletin reported this month a federal raid at a Murwillumbah property in April discovered a lab capable of producing 300kg of 'ice'. With 'ice' retailing at $100,000 a kilogram you can quickly work out why civil libertarians have their heads up their backsides. Brisbane's Fortitude Valley nightclub haunts may be Queensland's number one drug haunt. But with Indy roaring at the weekend and the nightclub lockouts suspended it will not be any surprise if the 300 extra coppers in town score some four-legged reinforcements from the drug squad. Tweed 'ice' works are only down the road. Thanks to the latest Queensland legislation, the sniffer dogs can now enter all licensed venues plus public transport. It is not a dog's life in the drug squad either. In addition to trips to the Gold Coast, Airlie Beach, Cairns and Mackay have recently welcomed the hounds to their lamp posts. The three-day national drugs conference on the Gold Coast this week reviewed the clandestine laboratory production of illicit drugs. Despite Queensland's restrictions on the pharmacy sale of cold medications containing chemicals used in amphetamine production, police report illegal drug labs are 'flourishing'. This includes the Brisbane Valley, rural areas between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and other acreage areas. "Anywhere where the stink from cooking amphetamines cannot be detected," the senior detective reported. Some of the crazy drugheads even burn down old shacks and homesteads when the 'cook' gets out of control. Little wonder certain laboratory equipment is selling like wildfire and has drawn government attention. But don't worry about it, say the civil libertarians. We cannot have recreational drug users embarrassed. The bad news is the civil libertarians may score support from privacy watchdogs. Complaints from nightclub patrons have spread nationally and were taken seriously when nightspots, including some on the Gold Coast, started using drivers' licence scanners to boost security. Despite the do-gooders, Queensland police have made some inroads on drug production as well as illegal drug useage. Police Minister Judy Spence confirmed 111 clandestine amphetamine laboratories have been upended in raids this year. Dozens of arrests were wrapped up after suspect over-the-counter pharmacy sales of cold/flu medication containing pseudoephedrine. But drug demand means the dogs will not be sleeping the nights away. Not when a gram of amphetamine can be sold for $150 and an ecstasy tablet sold for $10 or more. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine