Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, 50 Street Crew: Police charge 15 people in Operation Whiskey Rebound
Police have charged 15 people in a major operation targeting members and associates of one of the most infamous bikie gangs in Australia. Read what happened
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Police have charged 15 people in a major operation targeting members and associates of one of the most infamous bikie gangs in Australia.
Detectives have been investigating the members, former members and associates of the Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) since September 2024 who were allegedly recruiting members for a newly formed street gang known as 50 Street Crew.
The operation targeted those who were allegedly involved in recruitment, drug trafficking, extortion, arson and weapons activities.
As a result of the investigation, detectives from Taskforce Maxima South Eastern Region have charged 15 people on 54 charges, including three men who were charged with recruiting persons to become a participant in a criminal organisation.
These 15 people included a 52-year-old and 37-year-old Darra man, a 42-year-old woman, a 17-year-old woman, a 45-year-old Upper Caboolture man, a 44-year-old Cleveland man, a 38-year-old Mount Cotton man, a 39-year-old Yarrabilba man, a 27-year-old Broadbeach man, a 22-year-old Slacks Creek man, a 21-year-old Capalaba man, a 16-year-old Sydney boy, a 22-year-old Underwood man, a 22-year-old Eagleby man and a 23-year-old Crestmead man.
Acting Detective Superintendent Craig Bowman said the operation had disrupted the new 50 Street Crew gang.
“We gained intelligence that both current and former Comanchero members had been actively recruiting members for a newly formed street gang known as 50 Street Crew’,” he said.
“This operation interfered with these efforts early and has effectively disrupted the gang’s activities regarding drug trafficking across the southeast.
“Thanks to the collaboration of approximately 40 police officers from various criminal investigative branches, we were able to effectively co-ordinate 12 search warrants across two days resulting in significant arrests and charges, and ultimately, the disruption of drug trafficking and violent activities in Queensland.”
Detectives from the Organised Crime Gang Group and multiple other officers executed simultaneous search warrants at locations across the southeast on February 6 and 7.
They found two firearms, a large quantity of ammunition, a grow house with 19 plants, quantities of cocaine, cannabis, methylamphetamine and approximately $20,000 in cash.
During the search warrants, detectives found a suspected safe house in Darra, where they seized 1kg of cocaine, 85g of methylamphetamine, a cannabis grow house, one firearm and 2kg of cannabis.
Police found two men and two women, one as young as 17 years old, inside the home and arrested them at the scene.
The 52-year-old Darra man was charged with one count of producing dangerous drugs, three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, possess utensils and authority required to possess explosives.
He is expected to appear at Richlands Magistrates Court on March 31.
The 37-year-old Darra man was charged with three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, one count of possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence under the Drugs Misuse Act, possess utensils or pipes and authority to possess explosives.
He is expected to appear at Richlands Magistrates Court on March 17.
The 42-year-old and 17-year-old women were issued warnings.
In a separate search in Caboolture, police found a man who was allegedly involved in a grievous bodily harm incident which occurred in Pallara on July 12, 2024.
The 45-year-old Upper Caboolture man was charged with one count each of drug trafficking, grievous bodily harm, deprivation of liberty, torture, possessing dangerous drugs, possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence, recruiting persons to become a participant in a criminal organisation, and possess utensils.
In additional search warrants, which were carried out at properties in Mt Cotton, Yarrabilba, Broadbeach, Capalaba and Springwood, 10 other people were charged.
The 44-year-old Cleveland man was charged with one count each of drug trafficking and recruiting persons to become a participant in a criminal organisation.
He is expected to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 27.
The 38-year-old Mount Cotton man was charged with one count each of drug trafficking, recruiting persons to become a participant in a criminal organisation, and possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence.
He is expected to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 27.
The 39-year-old Yarrabilba man was charged with one count each of drug trafficking and recruiting persons to become a participant in a criminal organisation.
He is expected to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on March 3.
A 27-year-old Broadbeach man was charged with one count of drug trafficking, dangerous conduct with a weapon and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
He is expected to appear at Southport Magistrates Court on February 13.
A 22-year-old Slacks Creek man was charged with one count of drug trafficking.
He is expected to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 27.
A 21-year-old Capalaba man was charged with one count of drug trafficking.
He is expected to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 21.
A 16-year-old Sydney boy was issued a warning for possessing dangerous drugs and possessing utensil.
A 22-year-old Underwood man was charged with one count of drug trafficking.
He is expected to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on March 3.
A 22-year-old Eagleby man was charged with one count of drug trafficking.
He is expected to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 27.
A 23-year-old Crestmead man was charged with two counts each of drug trafficking and assault occasioning bodily harm, and one count each of arson and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
He is expected to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 27.
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Originally published as Comanchero Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, 50 Street Crew: Police charge 15 people in Operation Whiskey Rebound
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