Mackay police arrest 257 people on 596 charges over 10 days under Operation Whiskey Legion

The statewide Operation Whiskey Legion has had ‘absolutely outstanding’ success in the tropical north with hundreds charged with offences including rape, sexual assault, DV, armed robberies and more. SEE THE VIDEO

Queensland’s jails have received an influx of alleged criminals after a 10-day police blitz in the tropical north sting nabbed more than 250 people on almost 600 charges.

More than 80 specialist officers – from units including from the state Crime and Intelligence Command, Rail Squad, Water Police, Dog Squad, Highway Patrol, and Crime Prevention – joined Mackay Whitsunday police to unroll the sixth stint of Operation Whiskey Legion.

Superintendent Graeme Paine said the “highly successful operation” targeted Mackay, Moranbah, Airlie Beach, Bowen and Hamilton Island with the metropolitan Mackay area a hot spot for arrests, particularly for property-related crimes.

“It’s delivered some absolutely outstanding results,” Superintendent Paine said.

“Across this period, 257 people have been arrested on over 596 charges.

“This represents a really significant contribution to community safety.”

Superintendent Paine said the arrests included 25 juveniles on 70 charges which would be dealt with via the courts or “diversionary processes” depending on the “individual situation and the seriousness of the offending”.

Police have arrested more than 200 people on more than 500 charges over five days as part of Operation Whiskey Legion in the Mackay district.

“Within the operation, we executed 65 search warrants, we undertook 3989 random breath tests and random drug tests, 238 wandings, we’ve issued 354 infringement notices, we’ve had a number of private engagements with over 1500 people, over 200 business engagements, and we’ve had direct contact with a lot of victims around crime prevention and what’s happened to them and how we can assist them into the future,” he said.

Across the 596 charges, the alleged offences included rape, sexual assault, serious domestic violence, armed robberies, stealing, drug-driving, drug trafficking and possession of dangerous drugs, unlawful use of motor vehicles and more.

Policing numbers have been bolstered across Mackay, Isaac Whitsunday as part of Whiskey Legion, which is a major multi-level operation aimed at reducing crime and keeping communities safe.

Those nabbed included recidivist offenders, particularly concerning property-related crimes and domestic violence, as well those alleged to be supplying drugs in Moranbah, Superintendent Paine said.

He said a “significant” amount of planning was required to execute Operation Whiskey Legion including coordinating with watch houses, courts, and jails like the Capricornia Correctional Centre to handle “numerous” people entering into custody including those who had warrants out for their arrest.

Across the state, Operation Whiskey Legion thus far has resulted in 1249 people being charged with more than 3091 offences, with the seventh deployment to focus on northern Brisbane.

Police have arrested more up to 33 high-harm, high-risk offenders across the district.

Earlier this week, Mackay Detective Acting Inspector Chris Eaton said the operation targeted “high-harm, high-risk” offenders.

“That smallish cohort of people that causes the most grief,” he said, adding the results have been really successful.

“They’re usually operating in small groups … they’re not just doing one break and enter a night, they’re doing five, not just stealing one car a night, they’re stealing three,

those cars then get burnt out,” Inspector Eaton said.

Mackay Detective Acting Inspector Chris Eaton. Picture: Janessa Ekert

“A lot of the time we know who they are,” he said, adding their location could be a challenge but the boost in policing numbers had allowed officers to hone in on those locations.

“There has been a noticeable reduction in property crime and that is directly attributable to the arrests of high-harm, high-risk offenders.”

The extra resources had also allowed police to take a deeper dive into more than 600 existing criminal complaints, and hone in on “prevention and disruption”.

Inspector Eaton said both the Mackay and Whitsunday safe night precincts had been flooded with police under the operation.

“The results in the criminal investigation and apprehension have been outstanding, we’ve seen an immediate reduction in crime,” Inspector Eaton said.

“Perhaps one of the most pleasing aspects is our ability to get out and engage with the community in areas we sometimes haven’t been able to get to.”

Originally published as Mackay police arrest 257 people on 596 charges over 10 days under Operation Whiskey Legion