Alleged Hells Angels associates charged in $3m drug, weapons sting

Three men with alleged links to the Hells Angels have been charged as part of a nationwide sting, after police found an alleged commercial-size clandestine drugs lab in Brisbane.

Three alleged Hells Angels associates were charged as part of an Australian-wide crackdown on bikies after police seized $3 million worth of drugs, handguns and assault rifles.

The National Anti-Gangs Squad – led by Australian Federal Police – have taken almost 100 guns out of the hands of alleged bikies in the past financial year and seized more than $3.6 million suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

The haul is double the amount seized in the year before and has led to more than 231 charges – up 35 per cent from the year before.

In Queensland, three men with alleged links to the Hells Angels were charged by the squad in November after police found a commercial-size clandestine laboratory in East Brisbane.

Police allege the lab was used for the production of methamphetamine and that they found seven handguns and assault rifles, $153,000 in cash, more than 6.5kg of heroin and 2kg of methamphetamine.

Gold Coast man Ricky Wilson, 45, and Schroder Alexander Lobb, 31, of East Toowoomba were arrested near the address and charged with a raft of drug and weapon offences.

They have faced court where they were remanded in custody.

Officers also arrested Rockhampton man Neville Murgatroyd, 32, after allegedly finding more than $150,000 in cash in his car at Miriam Vale in Central Queensland on November 4.

Arrest in East Brisbane raid. Picture: AFP

He was charged with possessing tainted property and his matter before the courts.

NAGS Detective Superintendent Jason McArthur said that 90 per cent of the 100 murder plots uncovered as part of Operation Ironside – Australia’s largest ever crime bust – were directly related to bikie gangs.

“The AFP and our state and territory police partners, intercepted and disrupted plots to shoot,

bash or kidnap both rivals and innocent people,” Supt McArthur said.

“The number of firearms seized by NAGS officers around the country last financial year and so far this year – almost two a week on average – highlights the access outlaw motorcycle gangs have to weapons that are used to follow through with their violent plans.”

He said a study by the Australian Institute of Criminology showed outlaw gangs were increasingly recruiting violent men to their ranks.

“The study, which involved the Queensland Police Service interviewing former gang members,

also highlighted that while members were once loyal to a club for life, it was becoming more

common for them to switch clubs to pursue their self-interests or a profit,” Supt McArthur said.

Police also believe that once Queensland’s border restrictions ease, outlaw groups will try to ramp up their drug imports.

“We want to put them on notice that we are ready and we are coming for them,” Supt McArthur said.