A series of police raids in Queensland and New South Wales early this morning have targeted members of an outlaw motorcycle gang who are alleged to be part of a sophisticated drug trafficking syndicate.
As part of an organised crime operation, the Crime and Misconduct Commission, in partnership with the Queensland Police Service, the New South Wales Police Force Gangs Squad and the Australian Crime Commission, simultaneously executed search warrants on about 50 premises in Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan, Ipswich and Redcliffe.
These raids involved more than 200 police drawn from the CMC, State Crime Operations Command, Task Force Hydra, Qld and NSW regional police.
So far 17 people have been arrested with offences alleged to involve the large scale production and distribution of dangerous drugs specifically amphetamines. Others are being questioned by police and further arrests are expected later today.
The alleged drug syndicate includes members and associates of the Gold Coast, Ipswich and Byron Bay chapters of the Nomads motorcycle gang.
Those arrested have been charged with a range of offences including drug trafficking, drug supply, produce dangerous drugs, possess dangerous drug, possess drug utensils, possess concealable firearms and tainted property.
Today’s raids signal the completion of two closely linked investigations, codenamed Operations Navan and Danson.
CMC Operation Navan began in September 2005, in partnership with the QPS and the ACC, on the basis of intelligence about organised crime drug trafficking gathered and analysed by the CMC.
During that operation investigators gathered significant information relating to outlaw motorcycle gangs which led to a second investigation, Operation Danson, involving the CMC, the QPS and the NSW Police Force.
The CMC’s Director of Crime Operations, Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Doyle, says 18 months of hard work has led to the closure of two significant criminal networks.
‘As a result, we have disrupted the flow of dangerous drugs between Queensland and New South Wales. This shows that state borders do not impede crime agencies in combating organised crime,’ Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Doyle said.
‘Partnerships between Queensland, interstate and national crime agencies are more important than ever as combating organised crime becomes increasingly complex.
‘Operations Navan and Danson show how the distinctions between criminal networks are becoming blurred. The crimes themselves remain generally the same, but the once-rigid structured gangs of the 1990s have been replaced by a collective of criminals.
‘We are finding situations where criminals of different backgrounds and motivations work together for the greater greed. They will work with anyone if it means making money. The challenge of this new landscape of criminal activity makes our role in combating organised crime increasingly essential.
‘Detective Superintendent Scott Whyte, Commander of the NSW Gangs Squad, said the NSW Police Force would continue to work in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies in Australia to ensure criminal gangs throughout the country were targeted and dismantled.
‘Today’s results are an indication of what can be achieved when interstate agencies work together, and send a strong message to criminal elements within the community that they are not above the law,’ Detective Superintendent Scott Whyte said.
Note: A media conference will be held in the CMC’s level 3 hearing room (Terrica Place, 140 Creek Street, Brisbane) at 2.00pm today (21 February 2007). CMC, QPS and NSW Police representatives will be available for media interviews.
ENDS
