Police charge men involved in Operation Whiskey Cheviot, Sunshine Coast

A farmer who nearly had his fingers cut off, over a $200k debt, during an alleged home invasion has helped in the arrest of two alleged Brisbane criminal gang leaders and a third businessman attempting to flee the country.

A farmer who nearly had his fingers cut off with a meat cleaver during an alleged home invasion, because of a $200,000 debt, has helped police arrest and charge two men allegedly at the heart of massive Brisbane criminal gangs.

A third businessman has also been arrested who was attempting to flee the country.

Sunshine Coast police have arrested multiple people on more than 90 offences combined under Operation Whiskey Cheviot, established to investigate two violent robberies in Beerwah and the Glass House Mountains.

On November 28, 2023, police will allege four men broke into a farmhouse on Burys Rd, Beerwah while armed with baseball bats and a gun.

An elderly couple was in bed when the alleged attackers woke them up and allegedly dragged them out of bed.

Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch officer-in-charge Mick Doogue said they then allegedly “bashed” the elderly man with a baseball bat while “screaming extortionist demands at them”.

The four men then allegedly left the elderly couple’s farmhouse and stole personal items from them.

The 75-year-old man suffered injuries to his arm during the incident.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Doogue said the couple was understandably traumatised.

Police will allege the attackers had the wrong farmhouse.

Police have charged several men with more than 90 offences in Operation Whiskey Cheviot, conducted on the Sunshine Coast.

On March 21, 2024, police allege five men broke into a Morrison Rd, Glass House Mountains property, armed with a meat cleaver and firearm.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Doogue said they allegedly broke into the house and found their target, then made threats to two occupants of the home before striking the farmer, then stealing personal items and fleeing the scene.

“They pinned him down to the ground and used the meat cleaver in an attempt to remove several of his fingers,” he said.

The 47-year-old farmer did not lose any fingers but suffered extensive injuries to his right hand.

Sunshine Coast detectives, alongside the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC), then started Operation Whiskey Cheviot.

Police have seized several items and money during their investigation.

“The farmer from the second incident was able to tell us that he was involved in a failed business venture with a fellow at Morayfield,” Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Doogue said.

“The fellow at Morayfield provided migrant workers for farm labour. As a result of the failed business venture the farmer owed him a large sum of money believed to be in excess of $200,000.

“The Morayfield businessman then (allegedly) approached his own associate who was a high-ranking member of a organised crime gang in Brisbane.”
Police alleged the two then worked together to form a plan to recover the farmer’s debts.

“The head of the organised crime gang in Brisbane has (allegedly) then provided those instructions to the head of an organised crime gang on the southside of Brisbane.

“That person then (allegedly) advertised those instructions out to members of his own gang and four of those members had taken up the offer.”

Police alleged those were the four men involved in the initial home invasion at the Beerwah farmhouse, bungling the address.

Police have arrested and charged one of those four men but the other three remain on the run.

After the failed attempt at the wrong address, police alleged the southside crime gang leader then re-advertised the job.

Another five members of the gang took up the offer and police alleged they conducted the second home invasion – this time at the correct address.

Police found and charged those five men from the second home invasion and the leader of the southside gang. Police charged those six with more than 70 offences in relation to the incidents.

Police continued an extensive investigation that led to the arrest of the two alleged gang leaders this week.

Police have conducted a lengthy operation on the Sunshine Coast, named Operation Whiskey Cheviot.

On Tuesday, July 23, police found one of the men, a 38-year-old Morayfield man, on a plane about to depart Melbourne Airport on an overseas flight.

Queensland Police worked with Victoria Police to arrest and charge him and have organised to extradite him to the Sunshine Coast today.

He has been charged with five counts of deprivation of liberty, four counts of armed robbery, two counts of enter dwelling and commit indictable offence and one count each of extortion with intent to cause serious personal injury, grievous bodily harm and serious assault.

“He fronted court on Wednesday where he made an application for bail which was refused,” Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Doogue said.

“Sunshine Coast District detectives travelled down to Melbourne yesterday and will be returning with him today.”

He will eventually go before the Maroochydore Magistrates Court.

The police investigation has led officer to Brisbane, Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast.

On Wednesday July 24, police also conducted search warrants at homes in Brisbane where they found the alleged head of the organised crime gang in Brisbane.

The 36-year-old West End man was arrested and charged with five counts of deprivation of liberty, four counts of armed robbery (serious organised crime), two counts of enter dwelling and commit indictable offence (serious organised crime), and one count each of extortion with intent to cause serious personal injury (serious organised crime), grievous bodily harm and serious assault.

He has been remanded in custody and is due to reappear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 30.

As part of a search warrant, police also searched an associated car where they found and seized about $350,000 in cash, Rolex watches, diamond rings and six expensive designer handbags from inside a Honda Jazz.

Police charge men involved in Operation Whiskey Cheviot, Sunshine Coast

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Doogue said these arrests were a significant step in the operation.

“Arresting these two men is a large piece in the puzzle for Operation Whiskey Cheviot,” he said.

“This was a protracted investigation with lots of moving parts, but I’m proud of the dedicated work by detectives.

“This also demonstrates a strong stand against serious organised crime on the Sunshine Coast.

“We are continuing to investigate this offence to identify the outstanding three men from the first home invasion.”

Investigations are still underway to identify a number of outstanding offenders allegedly involved in the first incident in Beerwah.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

Originally published as Police charge men involved in Operation Whiskey Cheviot, Sunshine Coast