ICE dealers will be thrown into the spotlight when a CrimeStoppers campaign to help track down local traffickers is launched in the South East today.
The statewide “Make the Call. Cut the Supply. Stop the Hurt” campaign will be launched at the Mount Gambier Police Station.
The campaign’s early success has proven ice dealers operating their illicit trade in full view of the community are on “borrowed time”.
Crime Stoppers South Australia chair Sharon Hanlon said since the campaign launched in mid-February, the independent not-for-profit program had seen a staggering 247pc increase in the number of amphetamine-related calls from people wanting to help stop the supply of ice.
“Because regional communities are close-knit, people tend to know who is selling drugs and with more than 360 amphetamine-related information reports raised in a two-month period, it is clear people are not prepared to let drug dealers destroy the lives of the people they care about,” Ms Hanlon said.
“Information provided by the community has shut down three clandestine drug laboratories and seen the arrest of 10 people for a number of significant amphetamine-related offences, including trafficking in large commercial quantities of controlled drugs.”
South Australians are increasingly using online marketplaces, social media and encrypted phone apps to buy and sell illicit drugs.
Research shows as a nation Australia is only second to the Netherlands when it comes to the number of online drug vendors per capita.
“We do not need to know who someone is, just what they know,” Ms Hanlon said.
“Even if someone has little more than a suspicion that still might be the piece of the puzzle that can make all the difference, so our message is for people to make the call and choose to stay anonymous.”
Limestone Coast Police officer in charge Superintendent Grant Moyle said detectives relied on information from the public to bring down drug dealers.
“This campaign is another concerted statewide effort to encourage people to contact police with any information they have relating to drug dealing in South Australia,” Supt Moyle said.
“We have seen the recent success of police operations – including Operation Addenine – which has seen some people receive fairly hefty sentences.”
Supt Moyle assured the community a number of investigations were always under way, although they may not be evident to the public.
“We always require a reasonable source to suspect someone of drug dealing before we can act on it under our statutory duty,” Supt Moyle said.
“Every piece of information we receive from the public helps.”
