A traffic operation in the Calen area has seen 167 charges handed out and a dramatic arrest inside a burning cane paddock.
The operation involved high visibility patrols that targeted road-related offences across the Bruce highway between September 19 and 22.
Officers conducted 3,516 roadside breath tests and 174 roadside drug tests, in which 47 motorists returned a positive result.
48 infringement notices in total, and 167 charges were issued, including possessing or supplying dangerous drugs, possessing utensils, speeding and drink or drug driving.
Around 11.40am on September 20, police were conducting patrols along Bruce Highway when they observed substantial smoke arising from nearby cane fields.
Police spotted a man exiting the paddock before running back towards the fire with his dog.
Officers chased the man down on foot and located a large quantity of drugs.
The 34-year-old Monkland man was charged with five counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts each of setting fire to vegetation, and possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, and one count each of animal cruelty, trafficking in dangerous drugs (methylamphetamine), possession of a knife in a public place, and offence to buy or possess S4 or S8 medicines or hazardous poisons (dexamphetamine).
He has been remanded in custody and is due to reappear before Proserpine Magistrates Court on 10 November.
