Major cocaine bust connected to Mongrel Mob biker gang in Cairns
Specialist police teams have swarmed dozens of homes and self-storage units throughout Cairns in a crackdown on a major drug trafficking operation allegedly connected to a chapter of the Mongrel Mob outlaw motorcycle gang.
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Specialist police teams have swarmed dozens of homes and self-storage units throughout Cairns in a crackdown on a major drug trafficking operation allegedly connected to a Cairns chapter of the Mongrel Mob outlaw motorcycle gang.
Police will allege on Wednesday, October 4, detectives intercepted and seized one kilogram of cocaine en route to Cairns where it would be sold on.
Another seizure yielded a second kilogram of cocaine, as well as several grams of meth, more than 150 caps of MDMA, various quantities of steroids, $70,000 in cash and several unregistered firearms.
The raids were part of Operation Uniform Amaranth which was established by Major and Organised Crime Squad Far Northern to investigate an alleged dangerous drug supply chain feeding into the Safe Night Precinct.
The Operation has resulted in police starting proceedings against 59 people on about 264 charges.
Police have executed 45 search warrants in residences and vehicles across Cairns City, Smithfield, Edmonton, Kewarra Beach, White Rock, Caravonica, Bentley Park, Trinity Beach and Mareeba between November 11 and 12.
The raids led to the arrest of 33 people being charged with 196 offences including 20 people charged with carrying on the business of trafficking in dangerous drugs.
Most of these people are expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court in the coming weeks.
Police also allege that eight of the people charged with trafficking are members of the Cairns Chapter of Mongrel Mob.
Major Organised Crime Squad head Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Andrews said the operation has seen a lot of drugs taken off the streets of the Cairns Safe Night Precinct.
“This investigation was conducted for the purpose of making the precinct safer for our young people,” he said.
“A few kilograms of cocaine are now off the street, as well as quantities of MDMA, ice and steroids.
“At this time of year, when we know the Cairns SNP area will be busier with Schoolies – this is a success for our operation.
“Anyone who buys and sells dangerous drugs, such as cocaine and ecstasy, in our licenced premises can face life changing consequences, as many will discover during the coming months as they progress through the criminal justice system.
“The destruction of lives, families and friendships that the appetite for dangerous drugs causes cannot be understated.
“Dangerous drugs have no place in our community.”
The latest crackdown follows an earlier raid on properties used by alleged Mongols members in October.
Jessie Steven Ashworth and Matthew Haynes were two members of the alleged emerging Cairns chapter of the Mongols Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court on November 10.
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Originally published as Major cocaine bust connected to Mongrel Mob biker gang in Cairns
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