General News
4 August, 2026
Kuranda police blitz reaps results
AN unexpected traffic bottleneck added to the woes of motorists using the “stop-start” Kuranda Range Road recently.
A police operation on 24-25 July surprised drivers as a huge number of vehicles were stopped across both lanes during the commuter peak hour.
“Operation Yankee Surplus” – held in Kuranda and Cairns – ended up catching 69 drink drivers and 35 drug drivers, as well as 60 people charged with 88 offences such as unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, stealing, fraud, assault and other offences.
“These static sites are not about inconveniencing the public, they help us reduce road trauma and prevent fatal crashes, of which the Far North has seen too many this year,” Far North District Chief Superintendent Kevin Fitzgibbon said.
The operation deployed officers from General Duties, Highway Patrol, Property Crime Unit, Criminal Investigation Branch, State Flying Squad, Tactical Crime Squad, Dog Squad, Intel and the Vulnerable Persons Unit to conduct roadside breath and drug tests and vehicle searches.
They conducted 8675 roadside breath tests (RBTs) and issued 200 traffic infringement notices (TINs). Compliance officers from Transport and Main Roads also conducted checks, intercepting 68 vehicles and identifying 43 defects.
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) officers were also in attendance, enforcing fisheries and boating safety laws through surveillance and inspection of vehicles and vessels.
Operation Yankee Surplus was launched in May and will continue throughout the Far North.
