Paul Gerard O’Neill charged after outlaw motorcycle gang crackdown
A man has faced court after police allegedly seized weapons, drugs and $20,000 cash during a joint AFP and Queensland Police raid on a Sunshine Coast backpacker hostel.
Police & Courts
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A man has faced court after police allegedly seized weapons, drugs and cash including a semiautomatic rifle, revolver, ammunition, body armour and knuckle dusters during a joint AFP and Queensland Police Service raid on a Sunshine Coast backpacker hostel.
Paul Gerard O’Neill, 60, appeared in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday on a string of charges following the targeted raid at a Maroochydore backpacker hostel on December 23 last year.
Detectives from joint Taskforce Venator carried out the search warrant at the premises as part of an ongoing investigation into outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Police allege among the other items allegedly seized were a replica handgun and a gel blaster, 250g of cocaine, 400g of cannabis, 50 LSD tablets and $20,000 cash.
Police state O’Neill was at the property when the search warrant was executed.
Taskforce Venator detectives charged the 60-year-old with 11 offences including three counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, namely cocaine and LSD, over the schedule and possessing explosives, namely ammunition.
During his brief mention in court on Wednesday, defence solicitor Matthew Cuskelly asked for O’Neill’s matters to be adjourned to allow for material to be sent by police, including body worn camera footage along with drug and weapon analysis certificates.
Magistrate Rod Madsen adjourned O’Neill’s matters to March 31, and he left the court on bail.
District Officer Acting Superintendent Chris Toohey said Operation Albatross had been underway for the last two years to preserve the Sunshine Coast community of any possible gang infiltration.
The operation finished last year, but police maintain strong vigilance to deter and prevent any bikie group from finding a foothold in the region, Acting Superintendent Toohey said.
“We are very committed to maintaining a presence to detract any groups wanting to start here,” he said.
“We are very proud of our reputation as one of the best places to live in Australia and we will maintain that by keeping organised crime elements out of our area.”
In a statement, AFP Inspector Chris Crawford said the seizure of the allegedly illicit weapons was particularly concerning.
“Weapons are used by criminals and OMCGs to intimidate and harm rival gang members and, on occasion, police officers and innocent members of the public,” Insp Crawford said.
“That is why the AFP and QPS are working together through Taskforce Venator to get illicit weapons and substances out of the community.”
Queensland Police Service Organised Crime Gangs Group Detective Acting Superintendent Craig Bowman said the investigation demonstrated QPS’s commitment to combat OMCGs and the risks they posed.
“The unlawful weapons and drugs seized in this warrant could have caused untold damage among innocent communities,” Detective a/Supt Bowman said.
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