FOUR Perth women, employed by the Western Australian Substance Users Association, have been arrested and charged with a number of serious drug offences.
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Detectives carried out search warrants on six properties in East Perth and Hamilton Hill on Wednesday afternoon and seized quantities of methylamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and cannabis.
A 50-year-old female from East Perth has been charged with 20 counts of offering to supply a prohibited drug (heroin), two counts of supplying a prohibited drug (heroin), two counts of conspiracy to possess a prohibited drug (cannabis), one count of possessing heroin with intent to sell or supply, one count of possessing cocaine with intent to sell or supply, one count of possessing a prohibited drug (cannabis) and one count of possessing a prohibited drug (methylamphetamine).
A 49-year-old female from Hamilton Hill has been charged with two counts of offering to supply a prohibited drug (cannabis) and two counts of conspiracy to possess a prohibited drug (heroin).
A second 49-year-old female from Hamilton Hill has been charged with 30 counts of supplying a prohibited drug (heroin), one count of supplying a prohibited drug (heroin) and one count of possessing a prohibited drug (heroin).
A 67-year-old female from East Perth has been charged with 12 counts of offering to supply a prohibited drug (heroin) and one count of possessing a prohibited drug (heroin).
The four women were released on bail and will appear in Perth Magistrates Court on March 27.
Investigations by Perth detectives are continuing.
The Western Australian Substance Users Association has been running since 1996 and "aims to improve the health and social circumstances of people who use illicit substances in WA."
In their 2012/13 annual report the organisation said it "thanked" the state and commonwealth governments for supporting WASUA through grants. The organisation's total budget for the year was $1,688,908.04.
It does not say how much coin the federal and state governments contributed.
WASUA chair woman Jill Rundle said she was "absolutely shocked" by the drug charges.
She said the four women had been stood down.
"I think we need to wait until the outcome of the court action," she told Fairfax Media.
Ms Rundle said the organisation may have to overhaul its screening process for employees in the future.
"We are a peer-based organisation, so obviously there is going to be some people with a history of substance abuse," she said.