Moo Moo and Blowfish restaurant owners Steve and Autumn Adams in ‘shock’ at cocaine charges
Two high-profile restaurateurs facing minor cocaine charges, amid an alleged Gold Coast trafficking bust, say they are not the target and “anyone who knows us knows that isn’t us”. FULL STORY
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Two of Queensland’s highest-profile restaurateurs facing minor cocaine charges, amid an alleged Gold Coast trafficking operation bust, say they are not the investigation target and “anyone who knows us knows that isn’t us”.
Popular, longtime restaurateurs Steven and Autumn Adams said they were “shocked and dumbfounded” after police executed search warrants on their Gold Coast home and popular Broadbeach restaurant venues Moo Moo and Blowfish late last week.
Their lawyer Ron Behlau said Mr Adams, 50, faced a notice to appear in Southport Magistrates Court for cocaine supply and cocaine possession. Mrs Adams faces a notice to appear on cocaine possession, Mr Behlau said.
Mr Adams, speaking on Thursday, said the couple - whose venues are award-winning including a second Moo Moo in Brisbane - were both very “distressed to be caught up in something like this”.
“It’s not something we want to be involved or associated with.
“The subject of the investigation was not us or our businesses. And anyone who knows us knows that isn’t us.”
Mrs Adams added: “We have appointed lawyers, are taking it very seriously, we are absolutely shocked (but) we are not the subject of the investigation. We are shocked and dumbfounded.”
As well as search warrants on their home and venues, police also executed them across Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach Waters on Thursday and Friday last week as part of what police called Operation Victor Mosquito.
Six other people are facing charges as part of the alleged operation - including Mathew Lalic, 35, Kirsty Wallbanks, 40, and Anthony Hood, 60. Those three have all been charged with trafficking, supplying and possessing cocaine.
Mr Hood, of Burleigh Heads, is also charged with possessing phentermine - an appetite supressant - and possessing anything used in commission of a crime.
Jesse Ward-Howard, 33, is charged with four counts of supplying a dangerous drug and two of possessing tainted property. All four made applications for bail last Friday, with only Mr Ward-Howard’s refused.
The other two facing charges are a 40 year old Broadbeach man facing supplying and cocaine possession and a 61-year-old Broadbeach man who charges include possessing dangerous drugs, receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficing or supplying, and possessing drug utensils.
Neither Mr or Mrs Adams - scheduled to appear in court later this month - are facing trafficking charges.
Speaking about the search warrants on their home and Broadbeach restaurants, Mr Adams said: “There was a search warrant carried out with full cooperation and nothing was found of course, because they wouldn’t have found anything anyway.
“They just wanted security footage, nothing to do with the business, I want to stress that. It’s nothing to do with any of the businesses,” Mr Adams said.
“We weren’t arrested. They didn’t raid the house. There was just a ring on the door bell, we answered it, full cooperation and nothing was found. They wanted CCTV footage of the restaurant - not of us - (but) in relation to the headline incident which we are not involved with in any way shape or form either - and have not been accused of being involved in.”
Their lawyer Mr Behlau, of Behlau Murakami Grant, declined to comment further.
As part of the Operation Victor Mosquito search warrants, police will allege large quantities of dangerous drugs, including cocaine, paraphernalia, mobile phones, large amounts of cash and a BMW X5 were seized.
Detective Inspector Craig Bowman, of the police Organised Crime Gangs Group, said trafficking illicit drugs goes towards funding organised crime.
“No matter your standing in our community, if you are involved in the distribution of illicit substances you will be targeted and you will be held accountable.”
AWARD-WINNING RESTAURATEURS TO THE STARS
Steve and Autumn Adams have been doyens of Gold Coast hospitality for two decades, operating some of famed venues and entertaining celebrities and dignitaries.
The jewel of the English socialite couple’s restaurant empire is Moo Moo in central Broadbeach but their story began years earlier.
They met when Mrs Adams was 17 and studying history at the University of Southampton while Mr Adams was doing his engineering degree, specifically rocket science.
She supported herself at Pizza Hut, moving up to restaurant manager, before relocating to a warmer climate, away from the UK’s frigid cold.
The couple, who married in 1998 and lived in Brisbane initially, came into the industry operating six Subway franchises before expanding in 2005 with much-loved Moo Moo steak restaurant.
“We landed in Sydney in August, 2001. I had packed shorts and bikinis, but when we arrived it was almost as cold as home, so we immediately headed north to Brisbane,’’ she said in 2005.
“It was easy for me to get a job at Pizza Hut but, unfortunately, there were not too many positions for aerospace engineers in Brisbane, so Steve pulled out his financial planning degree and obtained a position with Westpac.
“We loved the warmth of Brisbane and the fact we could come to the Coast each weekend to surf.
“Then we got serious about the Coast and decided to find a little business and bought our first Subway franchise. We both kept our jobs and worked at the new business on our days off.
“It was so successful we decided to buy another, and then another. At one stage we had six. Because we were young and passionate the staff responded and we became like one big family, all offering ideas and ways to improve.”
In 2003 their Subways won Australian Service Awards for Queensland. But the couple moved into fine dining, finally picking Broadbeach.
Mr Adams recalled in 2019 on the 15th anniversary of Moo Moo: “My family had always been in restaurants back in England. We always wanted to come here and it took five years before we found the right spot.
“Two of my big passions are red wine and a good steak so it was a logical choice to open Moo Moo. We have been able to keep the momentum going by paying attention to the little details, listening to our customers and retaining great staff, some of whom have been here from the beginning.”
A Bulletin review by the late Brian and Patricia Mossop praised it as a “Chic and ultra modern restaurant dining and bar”.
“Moo Moo might well be an attraction for the hip cocktail set, but it also offers serious diners and wine lovers an option welcomed on the Broadbeach dining scene,” it read.
Moo Moo has entertained big names including five-time motorcycle champion Mick Doohan, Tom Hanks, Lady Gaga, John Travolta, Kenny Rogers, Josh Hartnett, Will Ferrell, Matthew McConaughey, Metallica, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones and the Foo Fighters.
It was awarded Gold Coast’s Best Steak Restaurant in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Restaurant and Catering Awards, Gold Coast’s Best Restaurant 2007 and Queensland’s Best Steak Restaurant 2008.
They expanded again in 2023 opening Blowfish Ocean Grill and Bar where Broadbeach’s former Bavarian bar was.
“We hope like Moo Moo, it will become a renowned and must visit Gold Coast destination,” Mr Adams said.
The project fitout cost $3m.
More Coverage
Golden Girl: ‘Can’t wait to get back in the pool’
Despite the whirlwind of national adulation and media exposure, Alexa Leary just can’t wait to get back into training. Read what she’s been up to after the Games.
‘Three-day party’: GC500 concert line-up unveiled
GC500 bosses will unveil a “great spectacle” for this year’s race which will dramatically shake up the event, as the first plans for night racing on the streets of Surfers Paradise have been revealed.