The Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) has closed a 24-month organised crime investigation that has dismantled an interstate cocaine-trafficking syndicate. The CCC served a Notice To Appear in court on a 71-year-old man this week bringing the total number of people charged as a result of the operation to 31.
Operation Quaker was a CCC investigation targeting a syndicate that was allegedly transporting significant quantities of cocaine from Sydney to the Gold Coast from where it was then distributed throughout South East Queensland.
Since October 2015 (click here for previous media release) the CCC has charged a further three people, including a 37-year-old Mudgeeraba woman with 27 counts of supplying a dangerous drug and a 35-year-old Robina man with 10 counts of supplying a dangerous drug. Two members of the alleged syndicate who were previously charged have had additional charges brought against them. The 71-year-old man will face a charge of Possessing of things (Money) bringing the collective number of criminal charges to over 300.
This includes seven men and one woman who have been charged by the CCC with the serious offence of trafficking in cocaine which carries a maximum penalty in Queensland of 25-years imprisonment.
A further four people have been charged by the NSW Police Force with 16 offences.
During the course of Operation Quaker, drugs with an estimated street value of $1.49 million were seized, including 1.1kg of cocaine found during a vehicle intercept in Coffs Harbour in December 2014. It is alleged these drugs were destined for Queensland.
The CCC’s Acting Executive Director, Crime, Michael Scott said the investigation has shut-down a supply chain of illicit drugs.
“The CCC has recently completed the Queensland Organised Crime Assessment which includes an assessment of illicit drug markets in Queensland. The cocaine market is rated as a high risk to people of Queensland and the harms associated with cocaine use are considered as High. The CCC focuses its resources on the markets and networks which present the greatest harms to the people of Queensland,” said Mr Scott.
“The cocaine market has also been assessed by the CCC to be a high threat to Queensland because of the involvement of organised crime. An increasing demand for the illicit drug, especially within South East Queensland, is likely to continue to attract organised crime groups attempting to establish a greater foothold in Queensland.”
Over the course of the operation three people have pleaded guilty to various drug offences in Magistrate Courts and arrest warrants remain in place for two persons relating to supplying a dangerous drug.
These figures do not include charges that were dismissed or withdrawn against five people in October 2015.
As a number of the remaining matters are progressing through the criminal courts, it is not appropriate to comment further.
NEWS
