Four charged after drug raid on units

FOUR people have been charged with drug-related offences after police found cannabis and drug paraphernalia at an Inglewood apartment complex during a recent raid.

Twenty officers from Bayswater Police Station and Perth Detectives executed warrants on four Crawford Road units at 8.30am on February 2.

Bayswater Acting Senior Sergeant Will Withers said the address had been of interest to police for some time and members of the public had complained about activities at property.

During the raid a 42-year-old man was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, knowingly permitting drug use on property and possession of stolen property.

A 48-year-old woman was charged with possessing cannabis and drug paraphernalia, and a 46-year-old man who had an arrest warrant for failing to appear in court for possession of stolen property was also charged with possessing cannabis.

Police also charged a 26-year-old woman with two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia and knowingly permitting drug use on property.

A fifth man (36) was charged with five counts of stolen property.

Sgt Withers said all but the 46-year-old man (of no fixed address) lived at the complex.

“It was part of Operation Vorath, targeting drug-related and anti-social behaviour,” Sgt Withers said.

“The operation is ongoing.”

ECU senior lecturer and researcher Natalie Gately said drug use went through different trends.

“At the moment, we have seen an increase in the use of amphetamine type substances and crime associated with that usage,” Dr Gately said.

“There are reports that there are more dealers around but police are quick to detect them.

“Also, because there are more dealers, the quality of the drugs is lower because it is ‘cut’ and mixed too much, therefore the drugs can be unpredictable.”

The accused are scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court at a later date, except for the 46-year-old, who will appear in Midland Magistrates Court.