Two Katanning locals charged in connection to meth bust described as town’s ‘biggest in recent memory’

More than $100,000 worth of methamphetamine was allegedly seized by police in raids on three Katanning properties last week. Katanning police executed search warrants at two homes and one local business about 2.30pm on Thursday last week in a bid to disrupt the distribution of methamphetamine in the town. Police will allege they found 105g of meth, 100g of cannabis and $31,600 in cash between two of the Katanning homes. Detectives described the drug seizure as the biggest bust in Katanning in recent memory. Under WA law, anyone caught with 28g or more of meth can be declared a drug trafficker. In 2017, the State Government increased the maximum sentence for meth traffickers to life imprisonment and allowed the judiciary to impose unlimited fines. Katanning police Sen. Sgt Carlos Correia said Nelsen Stewart Robinson, 21, and Annika Mary Warburton, 26, were arrested during the raids. The pair faced Albany Magistrate’s Court last Friday. Mr Robinson has been charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell or supply and one count of possession of stolen or unlawfully obtained property. Ms Warburton has also been charged with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell or supply and one count of possession of stolen or unlawfully obtained property. They were granted bail and are due to face Katanning Magistrate’s Court again on May 11. Sen. Sgt Correia said last week’s raids were only the tip of the iceberg. “To take that amount of drugs off the streets is a great result and will have a positive result on the community,” he said. “But it shows that meth is still a big problem in Katanning.” The operation was triggered by information Katanning police collected from the community and through intelligence. Narrogin detectives have taken over the case as investigations continue. Narrogin Det-Sen. Const. Mitchell Kirk said he hoped the seizure would stem the flow of drugs into Katanning. “The immediate result in getting these drugs will positively affect volume crimes such as burglaries and car stealing,” he said.