Eleven people charged after bikie-busting drug raid uncovers $520k of drugs
Two of the 11 people charged with multiple offences have been named after drugs, guns and tasers were seized by specialist bikie-busting police, who smashed a circle of alleged Bandidos bikies.
Police & Courts
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Specialist bikie-busting police have smashed a group of alleged bikies with near 300 charges, after police say the gang were allegedly participating in illicit activities, including trafficking drugs and unlawfully supplying weapons.
Taskforce Maxima, from the state’s Crime and Intelligence Command’s Organised Crime Gangs Group, have closed six-month-long Operation Tiptoe, which targeted the illicit activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCG) in South East Queensland.
A total of 11 people have been arrested as part of the operation, which, along with the assistance of the Australian Border Force, was established in June.
Two of the 11 people charged, 24-year-old Gailes man Jonatan Daniel Fuenzalida and Isabella Ellen Elizabeth Ward, 21, also from Gailes, appeared at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Fuenzalida faced court on 119 charges which included 95 supply charges, six trafficking charges, as well as weapon charges and threatening a police officer or someone helping a police officer.
Ward has been charged with 104 crimes of a similar nature which included 85 supply charges and six drug trafficking charges.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL LIST OF CHARGES
The pair remain on bail and will next face court on February 2, 2022.
The operation commenced with the intention to specifically target and disrupt the importation, production and trafficking of dangerous drugs linked to the Bandidos OMCG.
Queensland Police allege the group, who were arrested by Maxima and the QPS’ Brisbane Dog Squad, have links to the Bandidos outlaw motorcycle gang.
“The operation resulted in the arrest of 11 people – all either members or associates of the Bandidos OMCG – on 297 charges, including three people charged with drug trafficking,” police said.
Between June 24 to December 1, eight search warrants were executed by taskforce Maxima detectives at various addresses across Brisbane, Ipswich and Moreton Bay.
“During the operation closure, police seized a large quantity of Diazepam and pharmaceutical tablets, along with various quantities of methylamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, LSD, steroids, cannabis, and cannabis plants and seeds,” a statement from police said.
The total value of drugs located is estimated to be $520,850, while $38,825 of cash was also seized, along with weapons, including two shotgun firearms, tasers, knuckledusters and ammunition.
Detective Inspector Damien Hansen of the Organised Crime Gangs Group said the result was another example of the QPS working with partners to target and disrupt the activities of alleged criminal gangs to keep communities safe.
“Removing drugs from the community and firearms and cash out of the hands of gang members is a significant result and we will continue taking all available action to target and dismantle these gangs,” Detective Inspector Hansen said.
A 24-year-old Kallangur man has been charged on multiple offences including two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs, 16 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing property used in connection with the commission of a drug offence and one count each of unlawful supply of weapons, unlawful possession of weapons and possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime.
He is due to appear at the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on January 21.
JONATAN DANIEL FUENZALIDA – CHARGES
1x possess drug utensil
1x possess anything used in commission of crime
5x drug possession
1x producing drugs
1x supply drugs
1x unlawful possession of a weapon, cat D/H/R
1x possess tainted property
2x drug possession
1x use carriage service to harass or menace
1x threat used to law enforcement officer or person helping officer
1x possess property suspected of being proceeds of drug offence
95x supply drugs
2x supply drugs
6x trafficking drugs
ISABELLA ELLEN ELIZABETH WARD – CHARGES
1x possess drug utensil
1x possess anything used in commission of crime
5x drug possession
1x producing drugs
2x supply drugs
1x unlawful possession of a weapon, cat D/H/R
1x possess property suspected of being proceeds of drug offence
85x supply drugs
6x trafficking drugs
1x publish or possess instructions on how to produce drugs
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