Third cocaine bust in a week
THE trend of hardcore illicit drugs being sold in Cairns nightclubs has reared its ugly head again, police say.
It follows what police say is the third cocaine bust in the Far North in the past week.
Police allegedly uncovered a stash of cocaine, MDMA - a powder form of ecstasy - LSD tablets, marijuana, cash and a knife in a car.
The drugs are believed to have a combined street value of more than $50,000.
After a tip-off about 1.20am on Saturday, police stopped two men heading north along the Bruce Highway at Tully. Officers allegedly found 50g of cocaine, 59g of MDMA, 25 LSD tablets along with a small quantity of cannabis.
The amount of cocaine found could fetch up to $20,000, while the LSD tablets could fetch between $20 and $30 each.
Police searched the car and seized the drugs, cash and knife from the front passenger side door, middle console and in a bag.
Two men were charged and taken to Innisfail watchhouse for questioning.
Brinsmead man Andrew Allister Merrick, 35, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing anything used in the commission of a crime.
Nat Johnson, a 28-year-old from Byfield, north of Rockhampton, was charged with possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a knife in a public place.
The two men appeared briefly in the Innisfail Magistrate's Court on Saturday.
The men have been remanded.
Far North regional drug squad Det Sgt Brad Grace told The Cairns Post yesterday the "hard drugs" had always been around in Cairns.
"It targets the high socio-economic profile, mainly your white-collared workers and it's not common that they share their information around," Det Sgt Grace said.
"It's certainly making its way into the nightclubs and it's not common for a dealer to have MDMA as well as cocaine."
On Thursday, officers found $150,000 worth of cocaine that was stashed in a rear speaker box near the Hambledon Hotel.
$150,000 cocaine stashed in stereo
A trio of Port Douglas and Mossman schoolies, all aged 17, were arrested for possessing cocaine, marijuana and rum on November 21.
Port Douglas schoolie's cocaine bust
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Bust: Two men are facing drugs charges after police allegedly found cocaine, ecstasy and LSD tablets in their car.
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