Mark Nolan to face Brisbane Magistrates Court over alleged drug smuggling charges

The identity of a Townsville pilot alleged to be involved in a massive, interstate drug syndicate has been revealed.

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THE identity of a Townsville pilot alleged to be involved in a massive, interstate drug syndicate has been revealed.

Mark Nolan was among three men arrested at Redcliffe Airport on Monday after a massive police operation uncovered a plane full of drugs, cash and guns.

Officers found about $1 million in cash and $3.5 million worth of marijuana on a light plane that flew in from Melbourne.

Police allege the men were a part of an interstate drug syndicate that detectives have been investigating for 18 months.

Nolan was allegedly the pilot, and one of four heads of the operation.

Townsville Major Organised Crime Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Caswell confirmed his teams were involved in the investigation and were assisting.

The Townsville Bulletin understands Nolan’s property and a number of storage sheds were raided on Monday, while other search warrants were carried out on houses and storage sheds across Brisbane in relation to other suspects.

A search of the plane uncovered approximately $1 million cash and a substantial amount of cannabis with an estimated $3.5 million street value.

Detectives from North Brisbane Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) have seized cocaine, large quantities of cannabis, $1.5 million in cash and weapons after intercepting an aircraft in Brisbane earlier this week.

Police arrested 11 further people following these raids.

The raids were part of the long running Operation Mugwort, which has seen $8.5 million in cash, weapons, ammunition, cocaine and cannabis seized.

Detectives are now investigating links to Thailand.

The men, aged between 25 and 60, are facing almost 150 charges, including trafficking in dangerous drugs serious organised crime, trafficking in dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, supply dangerous drugs, receive or possess property obtained from trafficking or supplying, possessing anything used in the commission of crime, contravening an order about information necessary to access information stored electronically, not being endorsed to possess restricted drugs and knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime.

Nolan is expected to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.

Originally published as Mark Nolan to face Brisbane Magistrates Court over alleged drug smuggling charges