Operation Victor Ignite, Sunshine Coast, 40 people facing 192 charges

Sunshine Coast police have charged 40 people with more than 190 offences following an 18-month-long drug bust, allegedly seizing cars, narcotics and firearms.

Sunshine Coast police have charged dozens of people with more than 190 offences following an 18-month-long drug operation, allegedly seizing luxury cars, drugs and firearms.

Up 40 people were charged with drug and property offences as part of Operation Victor Ignite which targeted drug trafficking on the Sunshine Coast.

The protracted operation concluded on May 23 after the Sunshine Coast Drug and Serious Crime Taskforce laid 25 drug trafficking charges and a further 167 drug and property related charges.

Supported by the Crime and Intelligence Command and Taskforce Maxima during the 18-month long operation, police executed two dozen search warrants on homes and businesses across the Sunshine Coast and one in Brisbane, where police allegedly seized a large quantity of drugs including cocaine, MDMA, ketamine and cannabis.

Body cam footage from police during one of the search warrants. Picture: QPS

Police also located and seized four high-end vehicles, a $30,000 boat and several firearms including a loaded semi automatic pistol.

A large, sophisticated hydroponic cannabis grow house was also allegedly located during a search of a property in Kunda Park.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Chris Duhig said the operation was a fight against drugs.

“This operation targeted high-end supply of dangerous drugs ... and it sends a clear message that drugs are not welcome on the streets of the Sunshine Coast,” he said.

“I thank the officers involved for their protracted investigation work and their tireless efforts to stop the supply of illicit drugs to our community.”

The operation took place over almost two years. Picture: QPS

Detective Acting Inspector Craig Mansfield said more than 100 officers were involved in reducing the flow of drugs to the Sunshine Coast throughout the investigation.

“Upwards of half a kilo of cocaine has been (allegedly) seized through the investigation as well,” Inspector Mansfield said.

“Six degrees of separation in the drug world it really is … the south east corner effectively all communicates with each other we’ve established over multiple years.”

A search warrant on May 21 at a Meridan Plains home resulted in Meridan Plains man Kim Andrew White, 48, being charged with 12 offences including three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two of trafficking in dangerous drugs and one count each of receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying and unlawful possession of weapons.

He was remanded in custody and will appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on August 2.

Marshall Andrew White. Picture: Instagram

Kim Andrew White. Picture: Facebook

Meridan Plains man Marshall Andrew White, 20, who is Kim Andrew White’s son, was charged with 14 offences including four counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two of trafficking dangerous drugs and receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying, and one count each of possessing anything used in the commission of crime and unlawful possession of weapons. He was granted bail in court on Monday and will appear again on August 2.

A Mercedes Benz C63 was also allegedly seized from this property.

A search warrant at a second Meridan Plains address on May 21 resulted in a 23-year-old Meridan Plains man being charged with one count each of trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime, and possess utensils or pipes that had been used.

He is due to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 4.

A search warrant at a Birtinya address on May 21 resulted in a 17-year-old Birtinya boy being charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and one count each of supplying dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime, possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence and authority required to possess explosives.

He is due to appear in Maroochydore Childrens Court on May 29.

The search warrant also resulted in Birtinya man Cruz Adam Potter, 18, being charged with one count each of trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime, contravening order about information necessary to access information stored electronically and possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence.

He was remanded in custody and will appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 26.

Originally published as Operation Victor Ignite, Sunshine Coast, 40 people facing 192 charges