Mexican Hoon Cartel linked to previous illegal car meets, as dangerous antics return on the northern Gold Coast
Police have linked the Mexican Hoon Cartel to a series of illegal car meets on the Gold Coast earlier this year amid a resurgence of the dangerous antics.
Gold Coast
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POLICE have linked the Mexican Hoon Cartel to a series of illegal car meets on the Gold Coast.
Organised hooning has increased in an industrial estate in the city’s north in the past fortnight after a lull of two months.
Gold Coast police Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said the weekend gatherings attracted a crowd of about 80. Operation Tango Vinyl seized four vehicles, issued 30 fines and made five arrests.
Chief Supt Wildman said it was disappointing individuals were again putting themselves and other road users at risk on city roads.
“This type of extreme behaviour is one in which it is only through sheer luck that someone hasn’t been seriously injured or killed, hence the seriousness of the policing response in addressing this issue,” he said.
“We expected they (would return) … It’s normal for these types of groups to attempt to re-establish themselves, to test the policing response.
“And again, Tango Vinyl is always watching.”
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Earlier this year, a series of hoon meets were held on the northern Gold Coast. One was at the Pimpama Bunnings carpark, attracting about 1000 people and 600 cars.
Police officers and patrol cars were pelted with rocks, bottles and fireworks at the “out-of-control” event.
Chief Supt Wildman could not specify which particular meet the Mexican Hoon Cartel was involved in earlier this year.
He said they were “very much central in organising these activities in the past” but they “weren’t alone”.
“What we are seeing now is still elements of those original groups, but it’s more individuals, loosely affiliated through social media, attending the events and conducting these activities,” he said.
The Mexican Hoon Cartel came into prominence in August 2018 when the Bulletin revealed their antics.
The group posts pictures and videos to social media pages of dangerous stunts.
Throughout Tango Vinyl, which is expected to run into 2022, police have seized 24 cars, issued 432 fines and charged 107 people on 146 charges, including 12 revheads with 13 charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
This week, the Queensland Police Service introduced new reporting capabilities to catch would-be hoons.
The changes make it easier for the community to report hooning offences through Policelink’s online reporting platform and gives the option to upload and provide any photos or videos.
Originally published as Mexican Hoon Cartel linked to previous illegal car meets, as dangerous antics return on the northern Gold Coast
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