Drug users are reporting that ice is difficult to source in Warrnambool as a police crackdown starts to have an impact.
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Detective Acting Sergeant Elissa Smith, the commanding officer of the Warrnambool police divisional tasking unit, said in the past six weeks 25 people had been charged with trafficking drugs.
She said the unit had a sharp focus on drug dealers with the aim of limiting the supply of illicit substances in the region.
"It's been very pleasing. We've got some outstanding young officers doing some excellent work in cooperation with the Warrnambool crime investigation unit and uniform officers across the region," she said.
Detective Senior Sergeant David Reither, of the Warrnambool police crime investigation unit, said drugs were a gateway to many other property offences, such as burglary and home invasions.
"Our focus on drug trafficking will have a positive impact on those other offences as well," he said.
"But it's only with cooperation and information from the public can police members best do our jobs.
"Anyone with information is requested to contact the Warrnambool police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
"We want to create a hostile environment for those in the drug trade, so they are nervous about committing offences."
Two home raids on Tuesday continued a busy few weeks for the Warrnambool police DTU.
Last week members assisted in busting a wool bale theft ring which led to the arrest of two men, which was also related to drugs.
In recent weeks unit members arrested and charged a man with trafficking ice and allegedly catching him with drugs worth more than $50,000.
Another offender was charged with ramming a police van and a couple were processed for the possession and theft of firearms from a Tower Hill address.
On Tuesday a Warrnambool music maker was charged with drug trafficking for the second time in three years after police uncovered large quantities of ice, cannabis and GHB at his home.
Jesse James, 33, of Carmel Drive, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he made a self-represented bail application.
He was arrested on Tuesday after police intercepted him driving a Huyandai Santa Fe wagon about 3pm on the Foxhow Road north of Camperdown.
The court heard Mr James appeared nervous, was sweating and evasive in his answers to police.
The car was subsequently searched and officers located seven grams of methamphetamine disguised in a deodorant bottle, about 10 millilitres of GHB, a set of digital scales and a large quantity of resealable bags.
The search of the vehicle led to the execution of a search warrant at Mr James' property.
Upon arrival, Mr James' parents told police their son lived out the back in a small studio room that was usually locked.
A search of the room uncovered large quantities of drugs as well as knives, swords, scales and other drug paraphernalia, including smoking instruments and deal bags.
The drugs included 15 grams of cannabis, with a street value of more than $1000, and 7.49 grams of ice, more than twice the trafficable amount, with a street value of more than $3000.
Police also seized 585 ml of GHB - about 10 times the trafficable quantity.
Mr James and another 26-year-old male were arrested on Tuesday.
The younger man was charged with trafficking and possessing ice and remanded in custody until Thursday.
Mr James was charged with trafficking and possession of ice, cannabis and GHB and weapons offences.
Warrnambool police Senior Constable Tammy Barry said a brief analysis of Mr James' Facebook account revealed messages relating to the sale of cannabis and GHB to a number of well-known Warrnambool people.
She said in one message Mr James offered to drive to a potential buyer and said he was "juicy as", which she said was a reference to being under the influence of GHB.
In applying for bail, Mr James told the court he had post traumatic stress disorder following a home invasion but had a stable address and was willing to keep his door unlocked.
He said he wanted to go back to university next year and often drove to Melbourne to record his music, stating his recent album had been in the "top 15 of the streaming charts for over a year".
Magistrate Michael Coghlan said Mr James had not shown compelling reasons why he should be released from custody.
He said the man had a longstanding difficulty with drugs and was previously convicted of drug trafficking in 2016.
Mr James was remanded in custody until September 23.
On Tuesday morning a house in Warrnambool's Laverock Road was raided in a separate operation.
Acting Sergeant Smith said two women were arrested after cash, crystal methamphetamine, mobile phones and drug paraphernalia, including scales, was seized.
A 32-year-old woman was was arrested, charged with possessing ice and burglary implements and released on bail to appear in court at a later date.
A 23-year-old woman was charged with trafficking ice and associated offences. She was remanded in custody.
That woman was previously placed on a community corrections order for trafficking drugs, but breached that order.
A magistrate gave her another chance on the CCO, but the woman breached it again and was on bail awaiting a hearing for breaching the CCO when she was arrested on Tuesday.
She was remanded in custody until Thursday.
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