Man arrested in cross-border police blitz had vowed to go straight

A man arrested as part of a massive operation targeting alleged bikies and organised crime gangs had vowed to go straight in the months before he was nabbed in last week’s massive police operation.

A Tweed Heads man arrested as part of a major police blitz on bikies and organised crime gangs on the Queensland/NSW border had publicly vowed to go straight after doing time in prison.

Randall Boneham, 27, was found with a loaded rifle and ammunition in his kitchen when cops raided his home last week as part of Operation Viking.

He was one of dozens of people arrested in the joint agency operation involving Queensland and NSW police, the Australian Federal Police, NSW Crime Commission and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

Randell Boneham last week pleaded guilty in Tweed Heads Local Court last week to charges of possessing an unauthorised firearm and ammo, and failing to keep a firearm safely.

More than $4.5 million in drugs, $165,000 in cash, seven guns and luxury cars and watches were seized in sweeping raids across the Gold Coast and northern NSW.

During the two-week operation, police said they also uncovered a Mongols bikie lair – hidden in an underground bunker accessed by a trapdoor and complete with a bar. They also seized weapons including a medieval flail.

Boneham, a father of two, is the first to face court over the raids.

He was refused bail after pleading guilty in Tweed Heads Local Court last week to charges of possessing an unauthorised firearm, possessing ammunition without authority and failing to keep a firearm safely.

Police have not alleged he’s a bikie, or involved in organised crime or drugs.

Boneham’s Facebook posts include one last month of him with fellow inmates posing in prison greens at what he said was Clarence Correctional Centre in northern NSW.

“Love yous all … we had each other’s back from start to finish,” he posted with heart emojis.

“9 months SPENT with each and every one of you was the best time of my life. Free my brothers.”

A relative posted: “Yeah, they might have your back in there but once out, it’s every dog for himself.”

In January, Boneham posted: “People are so proud of going to jail & being a bad ass … I think it’s nothing but an embarrassment!”

The Australian Federal Police have been involved in a blitz on the Gold Coast and northern NSW.

“Crazy … I used to be that person but you gotta find a purpose in life and make better goals and do what it takes to achieve them,” he wrote.

“People want you to fail all the time but you just need to do you and stick with it no matter how hard it gets.”

Friends and relatives told Boneham they were proud of his efforts since getting out of jail, with one saying: “Brother, you’ve come a long way.”

Another wrote: “The choices you have made are the ones that have taught you some hard lessons. From those lessons you have managed to take a different outlook on your life, not just for yourself but for your boys (sons) as well. Keep moving forward and no turning back now. Your choices now are making you a better person and most of all a better dad.”

Boneham will face court again next month for sentencing.

Police said they arrested a total of 54 people on more than 180 charges during the raids and warned ‘that is just the beginning’ as investigations continued.

They said they had used intelligence gathered at secret crime hearings to launch the operation.

“I can tell you (bikies’ very clearly … we will continue to come after you,” warned NSW police state crime commander, acting assistant commissioner Jason Weinstein.

“We know where you’re hiding your assets, we know where you’re hiding your drugs.”