Shane Ross and Cameron Martin murders: Gold Coast police say they are close to cracking case

Police investigating the murder of two Gold Coast men believed they are close to cracking the case, saying they have identified five ‘persons of interest’.

DETECTIVES investigating the “orchestrated murder” of ex-bikie Shane Ross and his business partner have not ruled out whether his former motorcycle gang sanctioned the hit.

Police today raided 22 properties linked to the Lone Wolf Motorcycle Gang – from Sydney to Coomera – in connection to the murders of Mr Ross, an ex-Comanchero, and Cameron Martin in a Gold Coast park.

Investigators have revealed they have identified up to five persons of interest from varying positions within the motorcycle gang and were “very close to solving the matter”.

In a bizarre twist, detectives also yesterday revealed the motorcycle club was linked to the violent kidnapping of Belgian woman Caroll Dufailly and Eduardus Groenewegen in Ipswich last year.

The revelations come as police released vision of a white BMW X5 SUV with stolen plates that was parked at Martin Shiels Park on the night of the murders.

Shane Ross and Cameron Martin.

Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith, who described the deaths as an “orchestrated murder”, would not say how investigators made the connection between the vehicle and the motorcycle gang.

But he said there was “evidence to suggest that key members of that gang were in that vehicle, on that night”.

He said investigators were not ruling out the killings were sanctioned by Mr Ross’ former motorcycle gang.

“It is possible. These gangs work in mysterious ways. They have partnerships by design, driven by greed and profit,” he said.

“So if it suits their purposes who knows who they wouldn’t throw under a bus. There’s no loyalty among thieves.”

Det Supt Smith said Mr Ross had disassociated from the motorcycle club but still had ties to it.

Mr Ross was murdered execution-style in the park, while Mr Martin was shot trying to flee on October 18 last year. He crashed a white Mercedes Benz into a tree off Tallebudgera Creek Rd, 1km from where his friend was shot.

Pressed on whether the hit was over a drug debt, Det Supt Smith said he wasn’t going to discuss theories as he didn’t want to steer the investigation in the wrong direction.

Some of the items allegedly found in the searches. Picture: Queensland Police Service.

The Lone Wolf Motorcycle Gang has also been linked to the kidnapping of promotion company owners Ms Dufailly and Mr Groenewegen from Ipswich last year.

The pair were dragged from their Raceview business by masked men and taken to bushland at Ripley where Mr Groenewegen was savagely beaten.

Ms Dufailly was able to escape while Mr Groenewegen was later taken to hospital with serious injuries.

State crime command Detective Superintendent Roger Lowe said the motive was still under investigation but it was likely driven by involvement in the illicit drug market.

“The victims aren’t linked ... the information suggests that members of the Lone Wolf Motorcycle Club are involved in both crimes,” he said.

Det Supt said the Lone Wolf Motorcycle Club was established in New South Wales in 1971. The only Queensland chapter is based on the Gold Coast.

Sources said the gang had a club house located in the Chinderah, which police confirmed was not raided today.

Not a lot is known about the Lone Wolf’s and their operations on the Gold Coast region as the gang is small and tries to keep a low-key presence, according to sources.

Lone Wolf bikies rarely talk to anyone else about their operations.

Multiple sources told the Bulletin the gang tended to deal in cocaine and steroids.

They are peaceful with most other gangs and there are no known rivalries, sources say.

Some sources described the gang as more “old school” that dealt in smaller drugs with a focus on steroids.

It is understood many members of the Lone Wolf and outlaw bikie gang the Mongols are already friends.

Det Supt Lowe said: “These persons aren’t motorcycle enthusiasts. They’re not in a club to ride a motorcycle and have brotherhood. That tradition is long gone. What we see now is gangs formed around the basis around criminal networks and serious crimes.

“It’s not unusual, and uncommon, for these OMCG’s to work together, involved in drug trafficking and other serious crime.

“And I think what we see in this investigation, particularly the double murder on the Gold Coast, demonstrates the type of violence they are capable of.”

Police today searched the Palmvale area in Northern New South Wales where the BMW was last seen.

It remains a vital part of their investigation.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444.