Police lay 56 charges in major Geraldton operation targeting crime

Geraldton police have charged 32 people with 56 offences relating to burglaries, stealing and drugs, following a five-day crackdown targeting all aspects of crime.

Police recovered a large amount of stolen property, including whitegoods and power tools, after executing a number of search warrants.

Officers also allegedly seized drugs including LSD, methamphetamine, cannabis and the prescription medication dexamphetamine.

Additional resources including the WA Police Air Wing and a drug detection dog were employed as part of the operation, which began last Monday.

Two people were charged with drug offences and one motorist was allegedly detected drug driving following a major vehicle checkpoint on Brand Highway at Dongara.

Sergeant Julie Leighton said officers stopped more than 450 vehicles but no one blew over the legal blood alcohol limit.

Officer-in-charge at Geraldton Police Station, Senior Sergeant Brad Bird, said the strategy also involved “flooding” Geraldton’s suburbs with large numbers of officers.

He said the crackdown would have a flow-on effect and would “cause detriment and disruption to crime in the entire Midwest Gascoyne”.