Drugs and fireworks captured
Kununurra police have wrapped up a major operation which included drug raids, the seizure of illegal fireworks and more than 2000 random breath tests.
Local officers were assisted during the six-day operation, which ran during Ord Valley Muster week, by specialist drug dog handlers from the Northern Territory and traffic police from Perth.
In total 2392 random breath tests were conducted between Monday and Saturday last week and 63 drivers were also swabbed for cannabis and amphetamines.
Detective Sergeant Manus Walsh, who co-ordinated the operation, said just one driver was found to be over the blood alcohol limit but five had tested positive to drugs.
"A lot of it (the traffic stops and RBTs) was looking at people for current licences and that sort of stuff," he said.
"The timeframes we were doing it was more to get an idea of how many people were in town.
"We probably would have got more (drink drivers) had we put a car outside the comedy festival on Monday and Tuesday night, but having the bus there while people were going to the festival would hopefully raise a concern and prevent them from doing it on the way back."
Det. Sgt Walsh said four people were charged with driving without a licence and two vehicles were seized by police.
He said 13 search warrants were also executed across the week with 13 offenders charged with 28 offences including possession of drugs, fireworks, illegal ammunition and unlicensed weapons.
"It's an operation that we run regularly throughout the year and this was a good time for us to do it with the influx of people to town," he said.
"There were general concerns that there might have been more drugs around town than normal.
"It's been a big week and the town was very well-behaved on the majority of things, but the operation was successful."
Cannabis, amphetamines and ecstasy were seized during the raids, while one man was caught with cannabis in the general admission section of the Kimberley Moon Experience after being identified by the sniffer dog.
Sergeant Phil Heathcote said separate to the special operation, there were three burglaries at tourist accommodations during the week and a vehicle left overnight at the Kununurra Shopping Centre was found in the morning with all its windows smashed.
He said several people were ejected from the Kimberley Moon function for unsociable behaviour but overall police were pleased with patrons.
"Despite the influx of visitors to the town … there were no significant incidents," Sgt Heathcote said.
