The Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) has closed an organised crime investigation, codenamed Operation Amulet, which targeted a criminal syndicate allegedly trafficking crystal methylamphetamine (ice), cocaine, MDMA and other drugs throughout the Gold Coast region and South East Queensland.
Yesterday afternoon the CCC served a Notice to Appear in Court on a 33-year-old Robina man who is currently remanded in custody at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre. The man is the main target of Operation Amulet and is allegedly a patched member of the Hells Angels.
He will face 31 offences including the serious drug offence of trafficking which carries a maximum penalty of 25-years imprisonment:
- 1 x trafficking in dangerous drugs, namely cocaine, MDMA, methylamphetamine and steroids, contrary to section 5 of the Drugs Misuse Act 1986
- 8 x supplying dangerous drugs, namely cocaine and steroids, contrary to section 6 of the Drugs Misuse Act 1986
- 10 x possession of property used in connection with a crime, namely mobile phones, contrary to section 10(1)(b) of the Drugs Misuse Act 1986
- 12 x possession of property proceeds of crime, namely cash, gold, motor vehicles and jewellery, contrary to section 10A(1)(d) of the Drugs Misuse Act 1986
The 33-year-old man is expected to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on 29 September 2015.
This man was previously arrested by the Queensland Police Service’s Taskforce Maxima on 5 August 2015 after the CCC provided information to them. At that time, the CCC had operational reasons for not disclosing this was a CCC investigation. (See QPS media release 1, QPS media release 2 and QPS media release 3).
The CCC and QPS have already seized more than one million dollars in cash, three automatic weapons, five hand guns, a quantity of drugs and mobile phones as a result of Operation Amulet.
The CCC has also launched proceeds of crime action against this man and on 7 August 2015 was granted an order in the Supreme Court to restrain real property and bank accounts valued at $605,720. The civil confiscation proceedings are continuing.
The CCC’s Acting Executive Director, Crime, Michael Scott said Operation Amulet had shut down a significant drug trafficking syndicate, which it will be alleged had been operating since at least March 2014.
“The CCC will allege that this syndicate was responsible for trafficking and supplying significant quantities of ice, cocaine and ecstasy over an extended period of time,” Mr Scott said.
“Ice is an extremely dangerous drug, which does immeasurable damage to our community.
“The assistance of the Queensland Police Service in this investigation was integral to its success and demonstrates that law enforcement in Queensland will continue to work tirelessly to remove these dangerous drugs from our streets.”
ENDS
