Taylor Michael Gorzkos
626. Hon Phil Twissto theminister representing the Minister for Police:
I refer to the recent sentencing of Taylor Michael Gorzkos with drug, cash and firearms offences from the freeway money incident last December.
(1) Why was there a delay of over a month in searching Gorzkos after his arrest, despite him being found in the possession of a trafficable amount of cocaine and a significant amount of cash, the combination of which is often associated with organised crime and therefore firearms?
(2) Can the minister explain why the police did not consider searching Gorzkos' home despite the police, less than two months earlier, raiding and charging a 36-year-old man in Duncraig with drug and cash offences along with 21 counts of illegal firearms possession, including 14 fully operational 3D-printed guns plus 3D printers, parts and ammunition?
(3) Is it normal practice in trafficable-level drug cases for police to wait for over a month before searching the home of the person charged?
(4) Do the police have sufficient resources to deal with these types of drug and illegal, covertly manufactured firearms cases?
The President: Honourable member, can I also suggest that you familiarise yourself with standing order 105(1)(a).
Hon Matthew Swinbourn replied:
I thank the member for some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister for Police.
(1)–(3) On 5 December 2023, Joondalup detectives in consultation with the Western Australia Police Force's State Crime Command, made an operational decision that a search of Mr Gorzkos's home would not be conducted. The search of Mr Gorzkos's home by the drugs and firearms squad in January 2024 was not a direct result of the events of 5 December 2023. During an investigation, the execution of search warrants is determined according to the specific circumstances of each matter.
(4) Yes.
