Pubdate: Sun, 15 Oct 2006
Source: Daily Telegraph (Australia)
Copyright: 2006 News Limited
Contact:  http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/113

POLICE, DOGS SWOOP ON CLUBBERS

FORTY people have been arrested in a blitz of a popular nightclub 
precinct in Brisbane, which also netted cash and drugs.

About 100 police officers and a team of drug-detection dogs swooped 
on inner-city Fortitude Valley overnight as part of the operation 
named Black Dog Two.

Brisbane Central District Officer Superintendent Tonya Carew said the 
drug detection dogs were randomly led past queues of people waiting 
to enter nightclubs.

"During these searches the drug detection dogs indicated that 75 
people had been in contact with or were at the time in possession of 
illicit drugs," Supt Carew said.

"From these indications 22 people were charged after they were found 
to have illicit drugs on them while a number of others admitted to 
police that they had consumed drugs earlier in the evening."

Police seized ecstasy tablets as well as amphetamines, cannabis and 
cash during the blitz.

Nine people were arrested for drink driving and another nine were 
arrested for public order offences.

Another 47 people were issued with on-the-spot fines for jaywalking.

The operation is part of an on-going crackdown on the district, and 
Supt Carew said it also focused on licensed premises that turned a 
blind eye to drug use and irresponsibly served alcohol.

"During the night Queensland Ambulance responded to five drug 
overdose cases in the Brisbane Central District - this is why we are 
out doing what we do," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine