Police lay 428 charges as Operation Tango Citron targets Comancheros drug network

A massive police operation has dismantled a notorious bikie gang’s $2m alleged Brisbane drug empire, with 42 people arrested on almost 430 charges. Now, 16 of those charged have been identified. WATCH THE VIDEO

Police have seized almost $2 million worth of drugs and property after busting an alleged drug distribution network on Brisbane’s bayside with links to one of Australia’s most dangerous bikie gangs.

A total of 42 people were 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.

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

On November 21 and 22, police executed 26 search warrants across southeast and central Queensland, including at Broadbeach Waters, Gaven, Tamborine, Rochedale, Steiglitz, Cleveland, Holland Park, Capalaba, Caboolture, Mount Nathan and Rockhampton.

Police seized drugs with a street value of $1m including 113kg of cannabis, 134 grams of cocaine and 84 grams of methylamphetamine.

Other items seized included $640,000 cash and 13 weapons, including five handguns and eight rifles, and six vehicles police allege were stolen or used during an offence.

A total of 113kg of marijuana was found in the police raids.

The vehicles included two cars, a motorcycle, a truck, a trailer, and jet ski, with a total estimated value of $230,000.

Police will allege a 33-year-old Cannon Hill man and alleged member of the Comanchero bikie gang, Adam Christopher White engaged in trafficking and supply of dangerous drugs along with a network of associates.

The man was arrested and charged with six offences, including two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs serious organised crime, one count of carrying a weapon in public, and one count of supplying dangerous drugs.

OIC of Bayside CIB Mark Mooney. Picture: Josh Woning

He is due to appear in Cleveland Magistrates Court on January 20.

According to police, the syndicate allegedly transported drugs into Queensland in heavy vehicles, for distribution throughout southeast and central Queensland.

Bayside officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Mark Mooney said the operation had in its early days identified a prime mover which allegedly made trips from interstate carrying drugs.

He said police knew of five trips the truck made.

Snr Sgnt Mooney said Operation Tango Citron would be a major disrupter to the syndicate and the flow of illegal drugs into Queensland.

“Ten people have been charged with trafficking and 42 people with 428 other charges. One person is a confirmed member of the Comancheros,” he said.

He said police would now start trying to trace five handguns and eight high-powered rifles to other crimes and try to work out how the syndicate obtained them.

“That will take time as some of the serial numbers have been removed,” he said.

Some of the firearms seized by police.

Snr Sgnt Mooney said police were confident there were no other trucks or people involved, but said the syndicate had been discussing an expansion.

He did not reveal where the semi-trailer crossed the border but said it had driven through other states with the drugs were hidden in the nose of the vehicle.

He said police would allege the driver knew the purpose of the five known trips across the border. The drugs were seized on the fifth trip.

“It was used fortnightly or a 21-day basis and was never unloaded,” he said.

“It was filled with paper towels.”

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

Among the 42 people arrested and charged as part of the operation are:

HYLAND, Alexander Gavin, 32 (Wynnum)

2 x Trafficking in Dangerous Drugs Serious Organised Crime

2 x Possess Property suspected

4 x Supply Dangerous Drugs

POOLE, Beth Helen, 28 (Holland Park)

2 x Trafficking drug

1 x Possess things

2 x Supply drug

2 x Possess drug

1 x Possess explosive

2 x Possess utensil

1 x Possess things (indictable)

FULTON, Justin Gary, 24 (Mt Gravatt East)

2 x Trafficking in dangerous drugs serious organised crime

1 x Permitting use of place

3 x Possessing anything used in the commission of crime defined in Part 2

6 x Supplying dangerous drugs

1 x Possessing dangerous drugs

1 x Receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying

1 x Possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence

1 x Offence to buy or possess S4 or S8 medicines or hazardous poisons

1 x Possess utensils or pipes etc that had been used

LANGE, David Trent, 45 (Kippa-Ring)

1 x Possessing dangerous drugs Schedule 1 drug quantity of or exceeding Schedule 3 but less than schedule 4

1 x Possessing dangerous drugs

1 x Possess utensils or pipes etc for use

1 x Possess utensils or pipes etc that had been used

1 x Possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence under Drugs Misuse Act

1 x Possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence

1 x Offence in relation to unauthorised and prohibited explosives

1 x Fail to store small ammunition & power device cartridges in a secured area

1 x Fail to take reasonable care and precautions in respect of syringe or needle

PRENDERGAST, Shannon Peter, 46 (Bracken Ridge)

1 x Trafficking in dangerous drugs [Criminal Organisation COA]

1 x Trafficking in dangerous drugs [Criminal Organisation COA]

2 x Possess dangerous drugs

1 x Possess dangerous drugs

1 x Possess dangerous drugs

1 x Possess property obtained from trafficking

2 x Possess property used in the commission of a crime

2 x Possess utensils

1 x Receiving tainted property

Police have dismantled a major drug syndicate linked to the Comancheros bikie gang.

HIGGINS, Wayne, 62 (Broadbeach Waters)

2x Trafficking D/Drugs

2x Possess anything used in commission

8x Supply D/Drugs

1x Receiving or possessing property obtained

1x Contravening order about information necessary

TURTON, Reegan Max, 47 (Mackenzie)

1x trafficking DD COA serious organised crime

1x trafficking DD COA serious organise crime

1x Permit use of place

1x discharge weapon public place

3x supply dangerous drug

1x unlawful possession of cat M weapon

1x Possess explosives

1x possess proceeds

1x possess DD – exceed schedule 3

ALDIS, Brian Ian, 46 (Mango Hill)

2 x trafficking in dangerous drugs

2 x possessing anything used in a crime

1 x discharge weapon in public

1 x unlawful supply of weapons

2 x supplying dangerous drugs

1 x possessing dangerous drugs

WHITE, Adam Christopher, 33 (Cannon Hill)

1x Trafficking dangerous drugs COA serious organised crime (Cocaine)

1x Trafficking dangerous drugs COA serious organised crime (Cannabis)

1 x Carry weapon in public

1 x Supply Dangerous drugs

2 x Possess anything used in a crime

WARD, Stephen John, 41 (Gaven)

1x trafficking DD COA serious organised crime

1x trafficking DD COA serious organise crime

8 x Supply Dangerous drugs

1 x Contravene Magistrates Order

JAMES, Codey William, 35 (Bulimba)

1 x Trafficking Dangerous Drugs

4 x Supplying Dangerous Drugs

2 x Unlawful supply of weapons

PENISINI, Isikeli Hainite, 37 (Holland Park)

1x trafficking Dangerous Drug COA serious organised crime

1x trafficking Dangerous Drug COA serious organise crime

1 x Trafficking Dangerous Drugs

1 x Permitting Place

4 x Possessing Dangerous Drug

1 x Possess Category D Weapon

1 x Authority required to possess explosive

1 x Possess Utensil

1 x Possess things

1 x Offence to Possess S4 medicine

1 x Possess Tainted Property

POTTS, Bradley Graham, 37 (Capalaba)

1x trafficking Dangerous Drug COA serious organised crime

1x trafficking Dangerous Drug COA serious organise crime

1 x Trafficking Dangerous Drugs

130 x Supplying Dangerous Drugs

1 x Producing Dangerous drugs

4 x Dangerous Conduct with a weapon

1 x Carry weapon in public

1 x Receiving Property from Trafficking

2 x Possessing Dangerous Drug

1 x Possess Category D Weapon

1 x Authority required to possess explosive

1 x Possess things

1 x Offence to Possess S4 medicine

1 x Possess Tainted Property

1 x Receiving Tainted Property

WORDLEY, Daniel, 33 (Tarragindi)

1 x discharge weapon public place

2 x possessing anything used in the commission of a crime

1 x possessing dangerous drugs

1 x producing dangerous drugs

8 x Supplying dangerous drugs

1 x Trafficking in dangerous drugs

2 x Trafficking in dangerous drugs serious organised crime

1 x unlawful possession of weapons

1 x unlawful supply of weapons

BROOK, Troydon, 31 (Runcorn)

3 x Offence to buy or possess S4 or S8 medicines or hazardous poisons

1 x Possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence

1 x Possess utensils or pipes that had been used

1 x Possessing anything used in the commission of crime

3 x Possessing dangerous drugs

1 x Supplying dangerous drugs

1 x Unlawful possession of weapons Category D/H/R weapon

HANNAM, Simon Matthew, 45 (Wakerley)

1 x Trafficking dangerous drugs

1 x Possessing anything used in the commission of a crime defined in part 2