WATCH: Guns, ammo, vehicles seized in police raids, names revealed

A group of people charged with a total of 69 offences including weapons, drugs and stolen cars, allegedly committed across the South Burnett and Darling Downs have been named. SEE THE VIDEO

Court documents have revealed the identities of four of the five people charged with dozens of offences following alleged property and vehicle thefts across the Darling Downs and South Burnett regions.

During March and May of this year, four men and a woman were charged with a total of 69 offences.

The raids were part of the large scale police operation, Whiskey Firestorm, which was a statewide initiative employed to tackle the issues of firearm safety and illicit firearms.

A statement released by police said that on April 30, police tracked a stolen 1997 Toyota LandCruiser from Chinchilla to a Candello Close address in Kingaroy, where they allegedly found a stolen firearm, ammunition, a quantity of methamphetamine and several items of allegedly stolen property including tools.

Cody Cortes, a 26-year-old Chinchilla man, and Chloe Skye Litfin, a 23-year-old Kingaroy woman, were arrested and taken into custody.

One of the firearms found by police.

On May 6, detectives tracked a second alleged stolen vehicle, a 2006 Toyota LandCruiser ute from Chahpingah to a Wilsonton business on Taylor Street where a second stolen firearm, ammunition, property and drugs were allegedly found.

It is alleged two quad bikes, firearms, ammunition, and tools including a chainsaw had been stolen from a Clarke’s Rd address in Marmadua on April 24, and the second recovered firearm had been stolen from a Bushgrove School Road address in Cooranga on March 16.

Police allege other property uncovered from the vehicle was stolen from several properties across the Darling Downs and South West Districts between March and May this year.

Ms Litfin was charged with seven offences, including two counts of receiving tainted property and one count each of possessing dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of prescription medication, possessing utensils, burglary, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

According to the court documents, she is also facing four charges of breaching bail and two counts of stealing.

She is due to appear in the Kingaroy Magistrates Court on May 30, 2025.

Kingaroy police have charged four men and a woman with a total of 69 charges following a number of property and vehicle thefts across the Darling Downs and South West Districts.

Mr Cortes was charged with 21 offences, including six counts of stealing, four counts of receiving tainted property, three counts of driving while disqualified, two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count each of burglary, enter premises, unlawful possession of a firearm, possessing explosive, possessing dangerous drugs and failing to take care with respect of syringes.

He is due back before the Kingaroy Magistrates Court on June 27.

Police also charged another Chinchilla man, Brodie Cortes, 28, with 33 offences including six counts of wilful damage, four counts of receiving tainted property and enter premise, two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified and possessing a weapon, and one count each of possessing dangerous drugs, possessing utensils, carry loaded firearm in public, possessing explosives and wilful damage.

He has also been charged with eight counts of stealing, which included stealing vehicles and property valued at over $5000.

He appeared in the Dalby Magistrates Court on May 10 and is due to reappear before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 9.

Another one of the weapons found by police.

Police earlier charged Brett Matthew Waters in connection to the break and enter of a Bushgrove School Road address in Cooranga on March 16.

Police were conducting patrols near the Kingaroy airport on March 28 where they allegedly saw a man and a woman acting suspiciously.

A subsequent search of their vehicle uncovered a .22 mag rifle and ammunition.

Police searched a Taabinga address on April 22, and allegedly found a second firearm, a .243 rifle.

Both weapons were allegedly identified as having also been stolen from Cooranga.

A 27-year-old man Taabinga was charged with two counts of possessing a firearm, one count of possessing a firearm with an altered serial number and one count of possessing explosives.

Mr Waters faced Kingaroy Magistrates Court on April 24, where he pleaded guilty to 17 charges, including six counts of possessing dangerous drugs, one count of driving an unregistered car, and one count of driving a car with the wrong number plate attached.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

A gun found in a vehicle during the police operation.

Also on April 30, Kingaroy detectives were called to a Memerambi-Barkers Creek Road property where they allegedly found a 36-year-old Blackbutt man riding a stolen quad bike.

Police say they searched the property and adjacent state forest and found a second stolen quad bike and a stolen caravan at a campsite.

It is alleged the caravan was stolen from a Winya Road address in Kilcoy on April 25.

A Blackbutt man, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, was charged with one count each of trespassing and possessing dangerous drugs, and two counts of possessing tainted property.

Kingaroy CIB officer in charge Scott Prendergast said the arrests were the result of hard work and commitment.

‘This has been an extensive investigation and is a great result for the Darling Downs District.

‘This is also a timely reminder for all property owners to take the necessary steps to ensure their property is secure, to significantly reduce the risk of theft,” Detective Sergeant Prendergast said.

Police investigations are continuing.

Originally published as WATCH: Guns, ammo, vehicles seized in police raids, names revealed