Isikeli Hianite Penisini: Bail denied for ‘very, very high-level’ drug operation with alleged bikie links

An engineering surveyor has faced court after his home was allegedly used by a bikie gang as a safe house to store, prepare and move “huge amounts of drugs”.

An engineering surveyor has been remanded in custody after a court heard allegations his house was used to move “huge amounts” of drugs in an operation with alleged bikie links.

Holland Park West man Isikeli Hianite Penisini, 37, has faced Cleveland Magistrates Court for a bail hearing.

The court heard Penisini, who had to be helped to and from the dock because of an injured knee, potentially faced years in jail if found guilty for his alleged involvement in a “very, very high-level drug operation”.

Penisini was among 42 people arrested on 428 charges as part of the Bayside Criminal Investigation branch’s Operation Tango Citron.

It targeted networks linked to the Comancheros bikie gang behind the supply and distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA and marijuana.

It is not clear whether the defendant has direct links with the gang.

The court heard a major drug operation was formed to investigate the defendant. File photo.

He faced a string of serious charges.

These included: two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs amid serious organised crime; trafficking in dangerous drugs; possession of dangerous drugs; permitting use of a place; unlawful possession of weapons category D/H/R.

Police said the offences occurred from August 17 – November 18.

Police seized almost $2m in drugs and property after raids on a Comancheros bikie gang drug trafficking syndicate.

The court heard Penisini allegedly became embroiled with people who used his property as a safe house to store, prepare and move “huge amounts of drugs”, including cocaine, to South Australia on a fortnightly basis.

The charges stemmed from a major nine-month drug operation and very, very high-level investigation, Magistrate Deborah Vasta said.

Ms Vasta said Penisini was allegedly captured on a recording, on November 5, discussing the delivery of $108,000 in cash.

Some of the firearms seized by police.

The court also heard a high-powered semiautomatic rifle was alleged to have been found at his residence.

Penisini’s barrister, Kate Fuller, said the case for drug trafficking against her client was not particularly strong.

She said he was a lesser party among his co-accused and there was no suggestion Penisini was involved with weapons or transportation of drugs.

She also said no encryption apps were found on his phone.

About $640,000 cash was seized during a police operation targetting a Comancheros drug syndicate in Brisbane's bayside.

Ms Fuller told the court Penisini usually earned $120,000 a year in his engineering job, but currently worked only three days a week after suffering a serious knee injury.

The injury and the potential that he might spend too much time in pre-sentence custody warranted his release on bail, she said.

However, Ms Vasta deemed Penisini too great a risk of interfering with witnesses and attempting flight.

She remanded him in custody. He is next scheduled to appear at court on January 20.