Source: Courier-Mail, The (Australia) Contact: http://www.thecouriermail.com.au/ Copyright: News Limited 1998 Pubdate: 15 Oct 1998 Section: Page 3 Author: Matthew Hart RAIDS STIFLE CANNABIS TRADE POLICE have dealt a major blow to the north Queensland illicit trade of cannabis and amphetamines after 40 people were arrested on more than 260 drug-related charges. More than 100 police raided homes and businesses in Cairns and Townsville over the past two days seizing 11kg of cannabis, amphetamines, LSD, cocaine and morphine. Property worth almost $500,000 and $4000 in cash and assets also were seized during the closure of Operation Malt involving north Queensland police and the State Drug Investigative Group. Eleven people were charged with 30 offences, including three for trafficking cannabis, after police raided several properties in the Atherton Tablelands and Cairns area on Tuesday. Police yesterday raided several Townsville private residences and businesses, arresting 29 people. They were charged with 230 drug-related offences, including seven of trafficking amphetamines and cannabis. A Townsville home and a Toowoomba block of land worth about $480,000 have been restrained and two bank accounts have been frozen. Laboratory glassware used in amphetamine production, four cars and a fishing boat were also seized. Acting Detective Superintendent Anne Macdonald, from the State Drug Investigation Group, said the seven-month investigation had made "significant inroads" into the availability of certain illegal drugs in north Queensland. "We have broken a number of smaller syndicates and people operating in the Northern and Far Northern regions," she said. - --- Checked-by: Mike Gogulski