Qld crims forfeit $5.5m in assets

Queensland seized a record $5.5 million of crime assets last financial year as well
as $4.5 million worth of drugs, the state's corruption watchdog reports.
The Crime and Misconduct Commission's (CMC) annual report on Thursday showed
$5,568,000 of assets identified as the proceeds of crime were seized and $19.54
million of assets were restrained in 2009/10.
The previous annual seizure record for crime assets was $4.67 million in 2007/08.
The $4.5 million estimate for the street value of all drugs seized in the state last
financial year was 10 times the amount for the previous year.
One large drug bust during this time resulted the dismantling of several crime
networks, the arrest of 63 people on 291 charges and the restraint of $7 million in
assets. The CMC said it was the most complex investigation it had undertaken.
Attorney-General Cameron Dick said the results showed the institution's importance.
"There is no doubt the CMC has made a significant contribution in the last 12 months
to combating major crime by achieving record results," he said.
The CMC received 4665 complaints containing more than 11,000 allegations - the
largest number since its establishment - and assessed 97 per cent of them within a
month.
The majority of complaints (2518) were made against police officers.
Allegations concerning assault, excessive force and inappropriate conduct accounted
for 46 per cent of all allegations received.
The CMC ultimately conducted 33 investigations into 111 allegations involving
official misconduct by police.