Detectives from Queensland and the Northern Territory met in Mt Isa this week for a cross-border drugs forum.

Members of the Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk, the Drug Intelligence Unit and Tennant Creek Investigations attended the forum on Monday and Tuesday and met with Detectives from Mt Isa, Townsville, Cairns and Brisbane.

Detective Senior Constable Adam Van Oosten of the Substance Abuse Intelligence Desk in Alice Springs said this was the first formal meeting between detectives from drug units in Queensland and the Northern Territory and was an important opportunity for establishing closer links between the two jurisdictions.

"Police in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia have been involved in cross-border policing for several years and the level of co-operation between the jurisdictions has been extremely successful, " Det. Sen. Const Van Oosten said.

"The forum in Queensland was not only a useful networking opportunity but it provided the basis upon which to establish more formal intelligence-sharing in the future. This inaugural forum enabled us to establish important relationships and also gave us an opportunity to share our different approaches to dealing with drug and outlaw motorcycle gang-related issues."


Photo attached: Please use credit "Photo courtesy of the North West Star"

Back from left - Deb Shepherd, Mick Flood, Adam Van Oosten (Alice Springs) Curtis Zealey and Michael Sharkey (Alice Springs.)
Front from left: Paul Jackson, Michael Page, Paul Biggin, Michelle Barry, Paul Austin, Tim Lee (Alice Springs), Michael Walker and Gary Hunter.






Media contact:
Theresa Kuilboer
8951 8825
0419 803 603