A Pormpuraaw couple have been charged with a number of offences after their vehicle was intercepted as part of a combined enforcement operation north of Mareeba last week.  

Officers from the Cairns and Mareeba Road Policing Units, as well as their colleagues from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads were conducting a joint operation near Southedge, about 20 kilometres north of Mareeba when they intercepted a north-bound utility at around 3pm.

The male driver was found to be unlicensed and a subsequent search of the vehicle yielded a large quantity of liquor including 49 casks of wine, 132 cans of beer and 4 bottles of bourbon.  

It will be alleged that the liquor was bound for the Cape York community of Pormpuraaw which has alcohol restrictions in place under an alcohol magagement plan.  It will be further alleged that the couple planned to on-sell the liquor at a substantial profit.

A man aged 35 and a woman aged 39 were issued with a notice to appear in the Mareeba Magistrates Court on January 4 2016 to face charges of attempting to bring liquor into a restricted area. 

The man was further charged with unlicensed driving as a repeat offender, failing to secure a load and driving a defective vehicle.  

Both the utility and the load of liquor were seized.  The utility will be forfeited to the crown due to the owner’s alleged repeat unlicensed driving infringements.

Far North District Acting Chief Superintendent Brett Schafferius said that police would be ramping up their detection and enforcement actions against sly-groggers in the lead up to the festive season, in order to maintain the safety of community residents.

“The issue of sly-grogging is one that causes untold harm to the residents of our communities right across the far north

“Those who are involved in the activity of illicit liquor supply do so with only pure greed as their motivation – and certainly scant regard for the misery and suffering that they themselves pedal”, he said.

Mr Schafferius said that police would continue to combat the issue of alcohol related violence in the communities by targeting those who preyed on the vulnerable through their sly grogging activities.  

Heavy penalties appy for taking liquor into restricted areas with a first time offender facing a fine up to 375 penalty units, which currenbtly equates to $44,175.

More information relating to travelling in alcohol restricted areas is available here:  https://www.qld.gov.au/atsi/health-staying-active/travelling-alcohol-restricted-areas/

Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations into these or any other matters should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.