Nine charged with cocaine trafficking after 18-month police operation

Nine people are facing drug trafficking charges, including the former part-owner of popular Fortitude Valley nightclub X Cargo, following a lengthy police operation.

Nine people, including a former Fortitude Valley nightclub part-owner, have been charged with drug trafficking, after an 18-month police operation targeting cocaine supply and distribution.

The nine men were arrested on Friday in Brisbane, as part of Operation Sierra Stallion, which involved evidence gathered through legal phone intercepts, Brisbane Magistrates Court heard.

Former X Cargo co-owner Angus Cattanach is among the nine people charged. Picture AAP/David Clark

They each were charged with drug trafficking and other drug-related offences and five were charged with money laundering, with some allegedly as part of serious organised crime.

Police will allege money was laundered through businesses set up by some of those who were charged and the offences occurred in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Angus Robert Michael Cattanach, 41, former part-owner of Fortitude Valley’s X Cargo nightclub, which closed last month, is charged with 21 drug-related offences, including 13 supply charges.

Cattanach did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to appear in court on Monday.

Justin Vyt Zakaras, 48, appeared on 17 drug-related charges as well as a charge of defrauding his former employer Max Frank Australia of $150,000, between 2017 and 2021.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Michael Read said there was strong evidence, from lawful phone intercepts, of Zakaras’s alleged involvement in the supply and distribution of cocaine.

Zakaras was granted bail on a series of conditions.

Christian Bong Collado, 36, who is charged with 15 offences, including money laundering, was granted bail on various conditions.

Angus Cattanach was part-owner at the popular Fortitude Valley nightclub before it closed last month. (Photo AAP/Megan Slade)

Sgt Read said Collado appeared to be “a bit of a money man, in the scheme of things’’.

He said Collado, who was unemployed and had been receiving Newstart and Jobkeeper payments, had allegedly moved within his personal bank account more than $300,000 during the offending period.

Sgt Read said Collado still had $99,000 in his account.

Pablo Ludwig Tan Pimentel, 37, appeared on 15 charges, but was refused bail as he was on parole after having been convicted of drug supplying in 2020.

Pimentel, who operates a cleaning business, is also charged with possessing a sawn-off shotgun.

Police prosecutor Sgt Michael Read said it was alleged Pimentel played an intricate part in the supply and distribution of cocaine and was the source of pure caffeine to be cut with cocaine.

Pimentel’s brother, Michael Angelo Tan Dominguez, 30, a cleaner, is charged with seven drug offences.

Dominguez, who is already on bail for six offences including drug possession, was refused bail.

Justin Vyt Zakaras is facing 17 drug-related charges as well as a charge of defrauding his former employer.

Magistrate Stephen Courtney expressed concern that brothers Pimentel and Dominguez had allegedly discussed buying an AK47 firearm for $20,000, although they were not charged over it.

Edwin Bryan Lazaroo, 34, who is facing 14 charges, was granted bail on various conditions.

Gene Isaac Shaw, who is facing 32 charges, including money laundering and 22 counts of supplying drugs, did not apply for bail and will appear in court on Tuesday.

Jay Roland Cryer, 46, who is on 35 charges, including eight counts of money laundering, did not apply for bail.

Butch Graham Smith, 47, who is facing 63 charges, including eight money laundering charges and 27 supply charges, did not apply for bail.

Cattanach, Cryer and Smith will appear in court on Monday.

Samuel David Vernon, 28, who is facing 13 charges, including money laundering, did not apply for bail and his case was adjourned until March 31.