Police shut down tattoo parlour used by bikie gangs to launder drug money

Police have shut down a Canberra tattoo parlour used by the “road captain” of the Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gang to launder drug money

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ACT Police has seized a Belconnen tattoo parlour after it was allegedly used by bikie gangs to launder drug money.

It is the first time a business has been “restrained” under confiscation of criminal assets legislation in the ACT and follows the recent discovery of $144 million of cocaine in an excavator — the biggest ever drug bust in the territory — which was linked to the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang.

ACT Policing Detective Superintendent Scott Moller said the seizure of the tattoo parlour was a “major hit” to criminal gangs.

ACT Police Minister Mick Gentleman and Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay held a press conference on Monday to congratulate police on the recent successes in combating organised crime but made it clear the capital wouldn’t be getting anti-consorting laws anytime soon.

ACT Policing Detective Superintendent Scott Moller said the ACT Supreme Court had approved an application by police to shut down Lakeside Tattoo Parlour at Belconnen.

“We did that off the back of some evidence that the tattoo parlour was being used by outlaw motorcycle gangs to launder money through that business,” Det Supt Moller said.

“So recently this month the court approved the seizure and restraint of that business and as such ACT policing took control of the business, changed the locks and shut that business down.”

He described it as a “major hit” to organised crime in the capital and said police would continue to target businesses being used by gangs for criminal activities.

Staff at the tattoo parlour were “contractors” and there is no suggestion they were involved in any criminal activity.

However, Det Supt Moller said two of the parlour’s owners had been under investigation.

“It’s certainly unfortunate for the business but we’re certainly not going to sit here and watch an organised criminal gang launder cash through a business in Canberra,” he said.

A sign pinned to the door of the Lakeside Tattoo Parlour stating the business had been seized under confiscation of criminal assets legislation.

A short time after the press conference, the newly formed Canberra Tattoo Studio announced the closure of Lakeside Tattoo Parlour on Facebook.

“All tattooists and owner(s) who have not been involved in the recent events leading to Lakeside’s closure would like to take this opportunity to announce that we are in the process of reopening a new business unaffiliated with those involved,” it said.

Earlier this month the alleged “road captain” of the Canberra Comanchero bikie gang, Jirawat McCallum, faced court for allegedly using the Lakeside Tattoo Parlour to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking.

ACT police’s anti-gang squad, Taskforce Nemesis, launched an investigation into the 31-year-old after finding 405 grams of cocaine and $6540 in cash during a search of his Gungahlin home in August 2018, according to police facts tendered in court.

ACT Police changing the locks after seizing Lakeside Tattoo Parlour in Belconnen

Police allege McCallum was “living beyond his means and declarable income” after police discovered he had bought and sold several vehicles including a $54,800 Nissan Navara truck and a $10,000 Harley Davidson.

McCallum had been receiving $700 a week in his bank account from the Parlour despite him not being an employee or a tattoo artist.

The police facts sheet also state McCallum is the “Road Captain of the Canberra Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.

“Police allege that the tattoo parlour was a mechanism by OMCG to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking,” the facts said.

ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay said anti-consorting laws had not worked in other jurisdictions.

McCallum remains behind bars and will face court at a later date on charges of drug trafficking, money laundering and possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

ACT Police Minister Mick Gentleman and Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay dismissed suggestions anti-consorting laws were needed in the ACT, claiming they hadn’t worked in other parts of Australia.

Canberra is seen as a soft target for bikie gangs who are drawn to the capital because it doesn’t have laws preventing members of criminal gangs from associating with each other like NSW, Queensland and Victoria.

Drugs seized during a search warrant at the home of alleged Comanchero “road captain” Jirawat McCallum.

“What we have said all the way through is we will be delivering on those legislative vehicles that work and when you look around Australia it’s very clear that anti-consorting laws haven’t been working in jurisdictions that have them to stop the organised crime from happening,” Mr Ramsay said.

“It’s something that happens in every jurisdiction.”

Mr Ramsay said the Government would continue to provide police and the Director of Public Prosecutions with the resources they need to tackle organised crime and introduce legislative change “supported by evidence”.

He said the ACT Government had already passed legislation around crime scene powers, drive by shootings and the confiscation of criminal assets and there would be “further announcements in coming months”.

Drugs and weapons seized resulting in the arrest of Jirawat McCallum in August 2018

The notice pinned to the door of Lakeside Tattoo Parlour in Belconnen.

Police minister Mick Gentleman said the seizure of the parlour and the “record-breaking” cocaine seizure, some of which was headed to the ski fields, sent a strong message to criminal gangs.

“ACT Policing will work to shut down your activities and cut off your ill-gotten gains,” Mr Gentleman said.

“If you are a member or associate of an organised crime group, you will be targeted by police and likely find yourself in prison.

ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay, Deputy Chief Police Officer of Crime Krissy Barrett, Detective Superintendent Scott Moller and Police Minister Mick Gentleman.

“The ACT Government funded two forensic accountants who were instrumental in the business shutdown, along with our broader funding for Task Force Nemesis.

“We are equipping ACT Policing with the tools and resources they need to combat organised crime.”

He also poured cold water on the notion the tattoo parlour may never have been set up in the first place if the ACT had non-association laws for bikies like NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

“I haven’t seen any evidence that this is anti-consorting laws have worked in other jurisdictions,” he said.