Police bust Coast drug ring

AAP

Photos

Drugs, $300k seized in Sunshine Coast raids

View Photo Gallery »

QUEENSLAND police have cracked a major drug ring on the Sunshine Coast.

The three-month Operation Hotel Guarana resulted in 38 offenders arrested on 202 charges - 24 of those on multiple counts of drug trafficking, including cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamines.

Police said warrants were executed over the past two days on premises in the Sunshine Coast, Redcliffe and Caboolture areas.

Superintendent Ben Hanbidge told reporters in Brisbane police had seized $130,000 worth of drugs, $45,000 in cash and about $300,000 in assets.

The operation involved 82 police from throughout southeast Queensland, as well as the Crime and Misconduct Commission and drug detection dog squad.

"During the course of the search of a residence at Eudlo (on Wednesday) police located a fairly large and sophisticated clandestine laboratory that we believe is responsible for the manufacture of quite considerable amounts of amphetamine," Supt Hanbridge said.

"That scene is still being processed at the moment."

Supt Hanbridge said there were no links with outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Those arrested were from a broad cross-section of society, from larger players to street dealers.

Supt Hanbridge said police will continue to target entertainment districts in their drug investigations.

"It's certainly taken out a lot of major players on the Sunshine Coast," he said.