Operation Whiskey Legion Gold Coast: Police release dramatic vision of arrests

Police have swarmed Gold Coast beachside suburbs in a major operation, as dramatic vision shows arrests including a chopper chase of men who removed their GPS trackers. SEE THE VIDEO

Police have blitzed beachside suburbs on the fifth day of a major operation on the Gold Coast.

Officers, including from the mounted horse unit, were deployed to Burleigh Heads, Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise on Friday for Operation Whiskey Legion.

It came as police release dramatic footage showing some of the arrests made during the 10-day operation, which has seen more than a hundred specialist police flood the city to target high risk crime and engage with the community.

In its first four days from Monday to Thursday, Whiskey Legion had resulted in:

* 94 adult offenders arrested on 200 charges;

* 15 juveniles arrested on 45 charges;

* 382 roadside breath tests and drug tests;

* 225 traffic infringement notices issued;

* 94 wandings;

* 4659 interactions with the public;

* 68 visits by police to homes and businesses to offer security advice.

Among those arrested was a 20-year-old man and high-risk offender wanted on outstanding warrants, who was found by police at a Surfers Paradise hotel on April 21. Officers allegedly located methylamphetamine on the man.

In Nerang, Operation Whiskey Legion officers arrested a 36-year-old woman for possessing a knife in a public place after finding two in her backpack during a street check, and another man who attempted to flee when he saw them.

Other notable arrests included two wanted men who had allegedly removed GPS monitoring devices who were spotted travelling in a 2017 Stolen Landrover Discovery.

The pair were monitored by the Polair helicopter operating as part of Operation Whiskey Legion due to the alleged dangerous manner of their driving, which included speeding and breaking red lights.

Police allege after officers on the ground deployed a tyre deflation device the men tried to hijack another vehicle at traffic lights, before they were arrested.

The two 21-year-old men have been charged with multiple offences including unlawful use of a motor vehicle. They appeared in Southport Magistrates Court yesterday and remanded in custody to reappear on May 28.

Senior Constable Tara Neiland with 'Nitro' and Senior Constable Simon Shilton with 'Stormy' at Burleigh Heads on Friday April 26. Picture: Keith Woods.

Speaking at Burleigh, Senior Constable Tara Neiland from the Mounted Unit said there had been a very positive public reaction to the officers’ appearance on the streets, which came just six days after a special Bulletin report about the concern of local business owners regarding crime in the area.

“We’ve done proactive policing and community engagement,” she said. “Overall it’s been very positive. Everyone loves the horses.”

Snr Constable Neiland said that as well as engaging with the public, the officers had made arrests in Burleigh during the operation on Friday.

Volunteer in Policing Andy Peters and Senior Constable Dion Bryant chat with Marita and Chris Pattison from Melbourne, who were visiting the Gold Coast to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Picture: Keith Woods.

Senior Constable Nicholas Roberts and Senior Constable Rochelle Novytarger at Cavill Ave in Surfers Paradise on Friday April 26, where police were conducting wanding operations as part of Operation Whiskey Legion. Picture: Keith Woods.

Police also conducted wanding operations at Surfers and Broadbeach on Friday and further roadside breath test checkpoints.

As part of Operation Whiskey Legion, police have also conducted major operations at transport hubs throughout the city, with a number of knives seized and a man arrested for theft at Helensvale Train Station on Wednesday.

Senior Sergeant Bruce Tracey from the Gold Coast District Crime Prevention Unit with a Mobile Police Beat beside Kurrawa Surf Club in Broadbeach on April 26, 2024. Picture: Keith Woods.

Speaking in Broadbeach, where officers set up a mobile police beat beside Kurrawa Surf Club on Friday, Senior Sergeant Bruce Tracey from the Gold Coast District Crime Prevention Unit said members of the public had welcome the police presence.

“We’ve done locations at Coomera, Helensvale, at transit centres, railways stations, tram stops, through the Southport CBD, and obviously Broadbeach today,” he said.

“We’ve had lots of interactions with people of all ages. There’s been general appreciation for police being seen in public, being out and about.”

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