BARWON police say a travelling roadshow encouraging locals to “Dob-in-a-Dealer” has already seen a raid on a home on the first day.
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The “Dob-in-a-Dealer” initiative is a state-wide campaign aimed at mobilising members of the public in the fight against the drug ice, and landed in Moree at the markets on Sunday.
Just hours later, police made their first move, executing a search warrant on a home after a tip-off from the community.
“We have already had an engagement here at the Moree markets which was very successful and as a result from that engagement we have conducted a search warrant as of [Sunday] afternoon, with a drug detection with charges pending,” Barwon Detective Inspector David Silversides said.
“As far as the Dob-in-a-Dealer program here at Barwon LAC it has been an immediate success already, and we are only a day into it.”
During the search, police seized illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, along with property suspected of being stolen.
Police said they expect to charge a 36-year-old man with drug and property offences.
Locally, police and council are hoping the Dob-in-a-Dealer campaign will be enough for residents from Boggabri to Boggabilla and Moree to Narrabri to pick up the phone. “Its pretty tough to dob some one in, but we are pretty tough people in the bush, and we shouldn’t shy away from it,” Cr Humphries said.
“I would really encourage people to use this line and have dealers dobbed in, because they are a blight on our society, and they are the single biggest cause of our crime in town the drug dealers and the drug users. So let’s get in and clean the lot up.”
Chairman of NSW Crime Stoppers Rob Forsyth said on average rates of reporting jumps 60 per cent with the campaign, and he believes the key is in giving the community the power to take action against organised crime.
“All of those dollars have been pumped out of your town by organised crime that could have been spent locally, so it’s a really strong message for the community to help,” he said.
“Sadly, it’s not going away, these scumbags couldn’t care less about the money they take out of this community, they are targeting country towns with almost a wilful disdain. This gives small communities the opportunity to fight back.”
