Operation Ironside: reality TV stars, bikies, mafia figures caught in AFP-FBI sting

The luxury lifestyles of the rich and allegedly infamous have taken a huge blow in the sting on an encrypted phone platform.

An Australian Federal Police-led operation has charged more than one hundred organised crime members after developing a world-leading capability to see encrypted communications used exclusively by organised crime.

The luxury lifestyles of the rich and allegedly infamous have taken a blow in the joint AFP and FBI sting on an encrypted phone platform, with police seizing a fortune worth of luxury vehicles, watches and designer clothes.

Outlaw motorcycle club members, reality TV stars and mafia figures have also been revealed to be caught up in Operation Ironside, the Australian component of the FBI’s overarching Operation Trojan Shield, involving the taking over and monitoring of encrypted app ANOM.

Among dozens of arrests in Queensland, former Ninja Warrior TV contestant Sopiea Kong, 33, was charged last week after police raided a Kangaroo Point property and allegedly seized a revolver with no serial number, as well as methamphetamines and fake identification.

Sopiea Kong. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Samuel Minkin.

Her co-accused, former Bandido Benjamin Joseph Thornton, 31, was arrested at Coorparoo and charged with offences including drug trafficking and possessing the restricted drug Viagra.

Former Bandido bikie Senad Catic, suspected to now be associated with the Comancheros, was arrested on Monday in Burbank in Brisbane’s south and has been charged with producing a dangerous drug in connection to organised crime.

Meanwhile, former Bachelorette contestant Samuel Minkin, 28, was allegedly stopped by police in a van near Byron Bay last month and found with 166kg of cannabis in vacuum-packed bags.

NSW Police said that in just the past two days they had executed 33 search warrants, arrested 35 people and seized 27 firearms, $800,000 in cash, luxury vehicles worth $1.5 million and significant quantities of prohibited drugs during Operation Ironside.

The search warrants were executed at locations including Alexandria, Barangaroo, Breakfast Point, Brighton Le Sands, Denham Court, Enfield, Erskine Park, Glebe, Kareela, Lidcombe, Lindfield, Macquarie Park, Malabar, Marsden Park, Middleton Grange, Monterey, Mortdale, Mudgee, Randwick, Redfern, Ropes Crossing, Punchbowl, Pyrmont and Vaucluse.

Seized firearms included two Glock pistols and a 50-calibre sniper rifle.

Some of the seized firearms. Picture: AFP

Authorities sort through the seized materials. Picture: AFP

In one home at Vaucluse on Monday, NSW police seized Rolex watches valued at more than $400,000, a Lamborghini and designer clothing, arresting a Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang associate for fraud, drug and other offences.

A Ferrari, McLaren and Bentley were among vehicles seized in other raids.

A large quantity of cash was seized as part of the operation. Picture: AFP

In prior and separate raids, US-national Edward Lavulo, 32, was reportedly charged with dealing in the proceeds of crime after police allegedly found $1 million in cash in two sports bags in his garage, and another $500,000 in a suitcase, in connection to an alleged Lone Wolf outlaw motorcycle gang syndicate.

Picture: AFP

His brother Judah Lavulo, 30, was reportedly charged with dealing in the proceeds of crime after $100,000 was found in his home at Edmondson Park in southwest Sydney. Another seven men were charged over the alleged Lone Wolf syndicate.

In Victoria, police say they have arrested 20 Comanchero members and several alleged associates of Middle Eastern organised crime groups.