Police plead for help to beat ice

That is the advice of Shoalhaven Police Inspector Steve Johnson about the drug ice, or crystal methamphetamine, which is sweeping through the Shoalhaven.

“This problem won’t go away,” Inspector Johnson said, “unless the community all works together to make sure we stop the manufacture and distributions of this drug.

“This drug is having a massive impact on the community.

“The people who manufacture or sell this drug do not care about the health or wellbeing of those they are selling to – they’re just in it to make quick money.

“They may be dealing in ice but are also dealing in human misery.”

Inspector Johnson said there had been a significant number of seizures of the drug in the Shoalhaven in the past 12 months, including large quantities during Strike Force Izzard.

“But to put it into perspective, ice is not just a problem here but in all communities in Australia and all over the world,” he said.

“We can’t put our head in the sand and hope it goes away – it won’t.

“This drug has a detrimental effect not only on the user and their families – it is far reaching and has massive impacts on communities as a whole.”

Police often report strong links between the use of ice and aggressive, violent, criminal behaviour.

“My own experience of this drug, while at Lake Illawarra where I saw numerous people affected by it, is that they become very violent, very aggressive,” he said.

“It is not uncommon for people taking the drug to be very irrational. At the end of the day we try to ensure the safety of the person taking the drug and ensure they get the appropriate medical attention,” he said.

“The drug turns them into a different person.

“Ice is a more potent form of amphetamine than speed, and has stronger and longer lasting effects on the user.

“Many long-term users lose lots of weight and develop skin and internal infections.”

Inspector Johnson said over the past five years there had been a steady increase of clandestine drug laboratories detected by police in NSW.

“The number has doubled from 2008 to 2013, from 55 to 115,” he said.

“Already in 2014, 65 labs have been discovered.”

He said anyone with any information of illicit drug use in the Shoalhaven should contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000; information can be left anonymously.

Strange odours

Diverted electricity

Chemical containers and waste

Blacked-out windows

Hoses and pipes in strange places

Blinds down, with extremely bright indoor lighting radiating through gaps

Vehicles arriving at odd hours