Two Cairns men charged with drug and wildlife related offences


Explosives, ammunition, a scrub python and several drugs and utensils have been seized by police following the search of Woree address yesterday.

Two Cairns men have been charged with drug and wildlife related offences following the search.



At 9:55am yesterday morning detectives executed a search warrant at a Sandown Close address.

During the search police located Methylamphetamine, DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine), cannabis, several drug utensils, ammunition and a snake.

Senior Constable Matt Cornish said police were “quite startled” by the discovery of the reptile. 

"When officers search dwellings they can be confronted by a number of interesting finds and this is one of them," he said. 

“During the search of the dwelling police located a scrub python, (which) was located in a cavity underneath the oven in the kitchen.

"Whilst examining the phones of the residents police were able to determine that this snake was a wild animal and it was caught for the purpose of keeping it as a pet. 

"Obviously this is an unlawful act and as such he was charged with taking a protected animal.

“A scrub python is Australia’s largest snake, it can grow from five to five and half metres even.

“Having this animal inside your house, although it was quite a small one in comparison, could prove to be quite dangerous.

“Not only is it possibly a danger to humans in regards to receiving a bite, it’s also quite dangerous or the animal … particularly when there’s no access to food, water or sunlight.”

The Department of Environment and Science were contacted by police following the discovery of the snake. 

A 41-year-old Woree man was charged with three counts each of possessing a dangerous drug and possessing a drug utensil along with one count each of supplying a dangerous drug and possessing property suspected of being proceeds of crime.

He is scheduled to appear at Cairns Magistrates Court on May 27.

A 41-year-old Edmonton man was later charged with one count each of taking a protected animal, possessing explosives and possessing a dangerous drug.

He is scheduled to appear at Cairns Magistrates Court on May 7.