Qld drug crackdown exposes 3000 charges, suburb hotspots revealed
Fresh mapping of crime in Queensland has revealed the new suburban drug capitals following major hit squads which have uncovered $103m in street drugs leading to 3000 charges and 842 arrests. FULL LIST OF NAMES, SUBURBS
Police & Courts
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Dog poo bag ‘drops’, nursing homes and unwitting delivery drivers are being used by crime syndicates to smuggle drugs around the state in a bid to avoid detection.
Queensland Police’s drug and serious crime group has exposed the lengths drug dealers are going to as they attempt to distance themselves from consignments.
It comes as the unit has made a significant dent in the operations of alleged syndicates, charging 842 people with more than 3100 charges and seizing approximately $103 million worth of drugs between January and October this year.
Acting Detective Inspector Bradley Phelps said investigators had uncovered alleged crime gangs were using “new and unique ways” to shift products – including using their elderly grandparents as middlemen.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE NAMES OF THOSE ACCUSED
He said officers had uncovered an alleged drug dealer placing 140g of cocaine in dog poo bags that were then dropped in a bin at a South Brisbane dog park.
“It will be alleged that the customer then attended a short time later and retrieved these bags from the bin before being intercepted by police,” Det Insp Phelps said.
Through investigations with Taskforce Sentry – a multi-agency initiative focused on disrupting drug importations into the state – investigators also identified “multiple shipments” to retirement villages.
Det Insp Phelps said a 29-year-old man was charged, along with his girlfriend, after 350g of cocaine was allegedly posted to his 93-year-old Moggill grandmother.
“The Taskforce has also investigated consignments sent to retirement villages including 336ml of GBL sent to a Noosa retirement village,” he said.
“The suspect for that was the granddaughter of the resident who resided in Brisbane.”
There have also been “numerous instances” of people putting letterboxes on vacant blocks of land and dealers offering to pay residents to have something ordered in their name and delivered to their address.
“They’re creative and they’re in the business of avoiding law enforcement and making our life more difficult,” Act Det Insp Phelps alleged.
“Our message is that people should not accept delivery of any package which they have not ordered themselves or is not consigned in their name.”
Despite these covert tactics, the drug and serious crime group has continued to thwart operations.
“In the first 10 months of 2021, the unit busted 84 drug labs and seized approximately 860kg of cannabis, 100kg of methylamphetamine and 70kg of cocaine.
“The vast majority of those labs were for the production of methylamphetamine, but interestingly also included this year were labs for extracting cocaine and opium,” Act Det Insp Phelps said.
Act Det Insp Phelps said there had been an increase in the amount of heroin, cocaine and ketamine seized this year but ice remained a priority because of the “very significant harm” it continues to cause to the community.
With interstate travel resuming, the unit anticipated that criminal syndicates would try to take advantage of the softer border restrictions.
“That will enable freer movement of big commodities between the states and also the associated money laundering and cash exchanges that occur in conjunction with that,” he said.
Investigators uncovered alleged crime gangs were using “new and unique ways” to avoid detection and shift drugs into Queensland.
Some of the operations run by Queensland Police this year
OPERATION SIERRA FRONTIER
Noosa detectives charged a total of 25 people – including former co-owners of a high-profile Noosa nightclub, a boxing gym part-owner and a prominent businessman – as part of Operation Sierra Frontier.
The 12-month investigation led to 100 charges including the alleged trafficking and importation of cocaine, understood to have been shipped in from Holland.
The operation resulted in the seizure of $12,000 in illicit drugs, including cocaine, cannabis and steroids, and some $346,000 in property.
• Marcus Les Wright charged with two counts of fraud, two counts of possessing a thing used in the commission of a crime, one count of trafficking dangerous drugs, two counts of supplying dangerous drugs and one count of stealing.
• Matthew James Long charged with 30 counts of fraud, three counts of supplying dangerous drugs and possessing anything used in the commission of a crime
• Samuel Gary Johnson charged with one count of drug trafficking
• Nicholas Kani charged with one count of fraud, one count of possessing a thing used in the commission of a crime and five counts of supplying dangerous drugs
• Israel Kani charged with one count of supplying dangerous drugs
• Sam Luke Harvey charged with one count of supplying dangerous drugs and one count of possessing a thing used in the commission of a crime
• Cameron Robert Goode has been charged with seven counts of supplying dangerous drugs and one count of possessing something used in the commission of a crime
OPERATION TANGO MAGNITUDE
A shotgun, crossbow, meth and more than $50,000 in cash were seized as part of Operation Tango Magnitude.
The 10-month police operation involved Logan Detectives executing 28 search warrants in areas including Beaudesert, Jimboomba, and Yarrabilba and ultimately charging 29 people with 125 offences.
As part of the operation, police also allegedly seized methylamphetamine, cannabis and GHB, two stolen jet skis and two stolen motorcycles.
• Kurt Patrick Hart, 35, charged with one count of trafficking in dangerous drugs serious organised crime, four counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs, three counts of possess dangerous drug, one count armed robbery in company and with violence, one count unlawful use of a vessel, one count assume designation of a police officer, one count dangerous conduct with a weapon, possess anything used in a crime, possess property suspected of being proceeds of a crime, possess utensils, three counts authority required to possess explosives, possess restricted items, unlawful possession a weapon
• Garth Andrew Velthien, 41, charged with six counts of supply dangerous drugs, two counts possess property suspected of being proceeds of a crime, two counts possess anything used in commission of crime, two counts possess utensils, obstruct police
• Samantha Margarett Wright, 52, charged with produce dangerous drug cannabis, possess dangerous drug cannabis, unlawful possession of weapons (Cat A), publishing or possessing instructions for producing dangerous drugs, possess utensil
• Colin Paul Roberts, 36, charged with two counts unlawful possession of weapons, one count contravene direction or requirement of police, two counts authority required to possess explosives
• Amanda Nicole Roberts, 33, possess dangerous drugs cannabis, possess utensils
• Elise Tessa Ramage, 39, charged with possess dangerous drugs cannabis, possess utensils, possess relevant substances
• Tiarne Micha Mckinnon, 24, charged with produce dangerous drugs cannabis, possess dangerous drugs cannabis, possess relevant things, possess utensils
• Blyss Murphy Cooper, 35, charged with three counts of fraud and two counts of possess utensils
• Nathan Talbot, 37, charged with possess dangerous drugs cannabis, possess utensils
• Matt John Marks, 32, charged with 65 counts of supply dangerous drug, two counts trafficking in dangerous drugs, two counts possessing dangerous drugs, three counts authority to possess explosives, possess utensils, possess property suspected of being used in connection with, two counts unlawful supply of weapons cat DH/R weapon, unlawful possession of weapon Cat A, B or M
• Paul Anthony O’Connor, 54, possess dangerous drugs, possess utensil, authority to possess explosives
• Jackson Kenneth Ross, 30, charged with possess dangerous drugs meth, possess utensil
• Tashe Rose Beggs, 22, charged with contravene requirement to provide access to storage device
• Riley Woollett-Morley, 24, charged with two counts of possess dangerous drugs
• Chloe Anne Weier, 23, charged with two counts unlawful possession of weapon, two counts
possess dangerous drugs schedule 1, one count possess dangerous drugs schedule 2, possess/ acquiring restricted items, two counts breach of bail
• Christopher Aaron Reed, 32, possess dangerous drug cannabis, possess utensil
• Tane Anthony White, 32, charged with possess dangerous drug, possess utensils
• Joel Ignacy Pilecki, 42, charged with possess dangerous drug meth, offence to possess S4 medicine, possess things used in commission of a crime, fail to take reasonable care and precautions
• Skye Ashley Chorley, 28, charged with two counts possess dangerous drugs, four counts stealing, driving without a licence, offence of driving ect while relevant drug present in blood
• Daniel Mollett, 36, charged supplying dangerous drugs meth, possessing dangerous drugs meth, possess things, possess utensils, two counts of possess weapons, possess tainted
OPERATION TANGO CITRON
A total of 42 people were arrested on 428 charges as part of the Bayside Criminal Investigation branch’s Operation Tango Citron.
Police seized almost $2 million worth of drugs and property after busting the alleged drug distribution network with links to one of Australia’s most dangerous bikie gangs.
Former Gold Coast Bandidos president and alleged current member of the Comancheros Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, Adam Christopher White, from Cannon Hill, was named as the alleged “principal offender” by police.
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.
• Alexander Gavin Hyland, 32, of Wynnum charged with two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs serious organised crime, two counts possess property suspected, four counts supply dangerous drugs
• Beth Helen Poole, 28, of Holland Park charged with two counts of trafficking, possess things, two counts of supply drugs, two counts of possess drugs, possess explosive, two counts possess utensil, possess things
• Justin Gary Fulton, 24, of Mt Gravatt East charged with two counts trafficking in dangerous drugs serious organised crime, permitting use of place, three counts of possessing anything used in the commission of crime, six counts of supply dangerous drugs, possess dangerous drugs, six counts of supply dangerous drugs, possess dangerous drugs, receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying, possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, offence to buy or possess S4 or S8 medicines or hazardous poisons, possess utensils or pipes etc that had been used
• David Trent Lange, 45, of Kippa-Ring charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, possess utensils or pipes etc for use, possess utensils or pipes etc that had been used, possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence, possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, offence in relation to unauthorised and prohibited explosives, fail to store small ammunition & power device cartridges in a secured area, fail to take reasonable care and precautions in respect of syringe or needle
• Wayne Higgins, 62, of Broadbeach Waters charged with two counts trafficking dangerous drugs, two counts possess anything used in commission, eight counts supply dangerous drugs, receiving or possessing property obtained, contravening order about information necessary
• Reegan Max Turton, 47, of Mackenzie charged with two counts of trafficking dangerous drugs serious organised crime, permit use of place, discharge weapon public place, three counts supply dangerous drug, unlawful possession of cat M weapon, possess explosives, possess proceeds, possess dangerous drugs
• Brian Ian Aldis, 46, of Mango Hill charged with two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs, two counts possessing anything used in a crime, discharge weapon in public, unlawful supply of weapons, two counts supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs
• Adam Christopher White, 33, of Cannon Hill charged with two counts of trafficking dangerous drugs serious organised crime, carry weapon in public, supply dangerous drugs, two counts possess anything used in a crime
• Stephen John Ward, 41, of Gaven charged with two counts trafficking dangerous drugs serious organised crime, eight counts supply dangerous drugs, contravene magistrates order
• Codey William James, 35, of Bulimba charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, four counts of supply dangerous drugs, unlawful supply of weapons.
• Isikeli Hainite Penisini, 37, of Holland Park charged with two counts trafficking dangerous drugs serious organised crime, trafficking dangerous drugs, permitting place, four counts possessing dangerous drugs, possess Category D Weapon, authority required to possess explosive, possess utensil, possess things, offence to Possess S4 medicine, possess tainted property
• Bradley Graham Potts, 37, of Capalaba charged with two counts trafficking dangerous drugs serious organised crime, trafficking dangerous drugs, 130 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, four counts dangerous conduct with a weapon, carry weapon in public, receiving property from trafficking, two counts possess dangerous drugs, possess Category D Weapon, authority required to possess explosive, possess things, offence to Possess S4 medicine, possess tainted property, receiving tainted property
• Daniel Wordley, 33, of Tarragindi charged with two counts trafficking dangerous drugs serious organised crime, trafficking dangerous drugs, discharge weapon public place, two counts possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, possessing dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, eight counts supplying dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of weapons, unlawful supply of weapons
• Simon Matthew Hannam, 45, of Wakerley charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime defined in part 2
OPERATION TANGO GISMO
Twenty people were charged with 117 offences as part of Operation Tango Gismo – a sweeping police operation across the Central Highlands targeting meth and marijuana trafficking.
Police allegedly seized methylamphetime, marijuana and two firearms as part of the operation.
Search warrants were carried out with the help of Moranbah, Clermont and Nebo police, Mackay Tactical Crime Squad, specialist drug detection dogs and officers from other agencies resulting in the seizure of evidence and the arrest of a number of people.
• Jay William Politanski, 34, charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs exceeding schedule 3, but less than schedule 4, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing things and possession of suspected proceeds of drug offences
• Jodi Kym Edwards, 33, charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs, 12 counts supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing things, possession of suspected proceeds of drug offences, possess utensils and possess tainted property
• Mollie May Carter, 19, charged with trafficking meth and supplying dangerous drugs
• Gabrielle Eden Lee, 23, is charged with supplying and possessing dangerous drugs, refusing to give police access to information stored electronically and seriously assaulting police by spitting
• Hollie Maree Eggleston-Burton, 37, was charged with supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs exceeding schedule 3, but less than schedule 4, possessing dangerous drugs, possess utensils and possession property suspected of having been used in connection with a drug offence
• Leah Elizabeth Stringer, 30, was charged with possessing dangerous drugs
• Joanne May Eckert, 39, was charged with supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing things and possess utensils
OPERATION KONOPIE
Murgon detectives charged a total of 57 people with 404 charges and seized firearms and drugs following the closure Operation Konopie, that targeted the supply of methylamphetamine in the South Burnett.
Operation Konopie, a five-month operation, targeted drug supply across Murgon, Cherbourg, Nanango, Kingaroy, Gayndah, and Mundubbera.
• Shane David Richards, 50, of Tarong was charged with 62 offences including 50 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, and one count of trafficking dangerous drugs and receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying and other related offence
• Kirsty Evelyn Mcleish charged with 11 offences including supplying dangerous drugs
• Mele Lineti Sanipepa Cross charged with 147 offences of supplying dangerous drugs, trafficking dangerous drugs, stealing
• Keith Norman Middleton was charged with trafficking and 101 counts of supplying dangerous drugs.
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