Nomad presidents Dion Madden and Beau Cochrane sentenced for drug and weapon charges

Police secretly listened as these two bikie presidents boasted about their club’s riches – now they’re in jail for years over a significant drug and gun bust.

Two bikie presidents caught with a significant drug and weapons haul have been jailed for more than a decade after they were lured into the lifestyle for easy money.

Dion Jay Madden, 42, and fellow Nomad bikie Beau James Cochrane’s crimes were exposed after police set up listening devices during a covert operation.

Thousands of dollars worth of heroin and meth were taken off the streets, as well as 11 firearms, five vehicles, four Harley Davidson motorcycles and a jetski after seven properties were searched in Adelaide’s north and east on April 23, 2021.

The Nomads were put under the spotlight during Operation Leo, an investigation that began in December 2020.

During sentencing on Tuesday, the court heard surveillance and listening devices were installed in a Magill shed to monitor Madden and 32-year-old Cochrane’s conversations and movements.

Dion Madden was jailed for multiple counts of drug trafficking. Photos: Courts SA

Beau Cochrane was jailed for multiple charges of drug trafficking and possessing firearms. Photos: Courts SA

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“You discussed drugs, cash and relationships with other members of the Nomads,” Judge Liesl Kudelka said.

Police attended at the premises found 720g of “very high purity” mixed methamphetamine, valued between $112,000 and $130,000 if sold in ounces.

The drugs found during the property raids last year. Picture: SA Police

Five vehicles, as well as four Harley Davidson motorcycles and a jet ski, were seized in the raids. Picture: SA Police

Members of Nomads outlaw motorcycle gang were arrested and charged after the raids. Picture: SA Police

They also found 702g of heroin – valued between $150,000 and $175,000 if sold in ounces – and 83.5g of methamphetamine and $9600 secreted in a car used by Cochrane.

Cochrane, of Highbury, and Madden, of Glynde, pleaded guilty to trafficking commercial amounts of heroin and meth, as well as laundering $27,200, for the benefit of a criminal organisation.

Cochrane also pleaded guilty to possessing 11 firearms without a licence, including two pistols, six rifles and three shotguns for the benefit of a criminal organisation.

The court heard Madden opened a sports store in 2013 but was forced to close the business in 2016, leading to him and his wife losing their home.

Madden then started using cocaine and steroids, which is when he came into contact with the Nomads and became president of the East side chapter in a “significant lack of judgment”.

“You found the allure of easy money difficult to ignore,” Judge Kudelka said.

The court heard Cochrane, who was a Nomads chapter president at the time of the offending, had been involved with a number of other bikie gangs – including the New Boys and Rock Machine.

The court heard the Nomads ceased to exist in South Australia after the men were arrested.

Another Nomad member, Brayden Mark Hunter was jailed in August after police searched his Bolivar cabin on December 11, 2020 and found over 90g of methamphetamine.

Brayden Hunter was jailed for drug trafficking for the Nomad bikies. Photo: Facebook

“You knew the profits were going back to the club in circumstances where the person with whom you were communicating was bragging about the club being the richest,” she said.

Cochrane was sentenced to 17 years and nine months jail, with a non-parole period of 14 years and two months.

“There can be no doubt about the harm caused to the community because of the trade in illicit and addictive drugs,” Judge Kudelka said.

“You were both higher-end dealers selling for profit, which involved drugs, guns and money.”

Cochrane’s sentence was backdated to June 24, 2021.

Madden was sentenced to 10 years and nine months jail, with a non-parole period of six years and nine months. 

The sentence was backdated to November 21, 2021.