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July 9th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda
Cannabis seized as part of an investigation into an alleged drug ring. Photo: Supplied
A drug ring allegedly used a hydroponics business as cover to smuggle an estimated $9 million worth of cannabis into the Gold Coast in the past year, police say.
Thirty men and eight women were arrested over the weekend after police issued 26 search warrants and seized 158 kilograms of cannabis, 500 ecstasy tablets, three guns, $481,000 in cash, two tasers and a red Ferrari.
Police have been investigating the alleged drug syndicate in an operation they code named Juliet Stilton after a tip off from Sunshine Coast police.
A Ferrari seized during a police raid. Photo: Supplied
Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch Inspector Tim Trezise said a de facto couple – a 54-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman – were the kingpins and operated a hydroponics business in the Gold Coast suburb of Elanora as a cover for the drug ring.
“Lots of legitimate people attend those shops, they are set up as a legitimate business for gardeners and other people, it’s a pretty good cover,” he said.
Inspector Trezise said police would allege the drug ring was bringing about 45 kilograms of cannabis into Queensland from New South Wales every fortnight.
“What we have discovered over the past six months is this syndicate has been bringing drugs in from interstate and they have been doing it on a fairly regular basis,” he said.
“Basically at least once every 14 days they bring over 100 pounds (of cannabis) over the border and they distribute it through various contacts they have.
“The street value of cannabis is anywhere between $3000 and $3300 per pound.
“It’s only early times in the investigation into how much they have brought it in the past six months but it could be in the vicinity of $9 million of cannabis have been brought into the Gold Coast.”
Police believed the cannabis was originally from Victoria.
Inspector Trezise said police were “very pleased” with the results and believed it would have a flow-on affect, which would mean fewer armed robberies and burglaries.
“It’s clearly going to disrupt the cannabis trade on the coast because it was significant amounts of drugs which were coming into the coast and being distributed,” he said.
“We’ve potentially taken 100 pounds or more of cannabis off the street every two weeks so that has to be a good thing.”
Police searched properties in the Gold Coast suburbs of Burleigh Heads, Elanora, Varsity Lakes and Southport as well as suburbs on the southern outskirts of Brisbane, including Shailer Park.
Police have asked the $481,000 in cash be forfeited as profits of crime and also seized quantities of cocaine and heroin.
Police are investigating what was done with the money the drug ring earned in the past year.
The 38 people arrested are expected to face Southport Magistrates Court today.
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