Alleged QLD drug syndicate included former Cairns man allegedly linked to Lone Wolf gang
A former Cairns resident with alleged links to a bikie gang was the “principal target” of a two-year police operation which led to four people arrested and the seizure of 1.7kg of a dangerous drug.
A former Cairns resident with alleged links to a bikie gang was the “principal target” of a major two-year police operation which led to four people arrested on drug trafficking charges.
And there’s likely to be more investigations and charges following the conclusion of two-year Operation Xray Rile, which was launched in November 2023, a senior Far North cop says.
The operation was kicked off to investigate the alleged supply and distribution of methylamphetamine and money laundering in Cairns.
It led to police executing seven search warrants at Newport, Narangba, Mango Hill, Hervey Bay and Townsville and allegedly finding a significant quantity of methylamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, a Harley Davidson motorcycle and mobile phones.
Police will allege the four people charged were involved with supplying, distributing and transporting drugs between the Moreton Bay and Far North Queensland regions, and all had “roles” within a syndicate.
Far Northern Major and Organised Crime Squad’s Detective Senior Sergeant Brad Grace said a 32-year-old Newport man, formerly of Cairns, was regarded as the principal target by police and it was alleged he was a member of the Lone Wolf’s “criminal motorcycle gang.”
He said he had been charged with one count each of trafficking in dangerous drugs, money laundering recklessly, and receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying.
“(Police) are constantly targeting outlaw motorcycle gang members and organised crime entities, and as a result of the investigation, we identified this syndicate working within Queensland,” Sergeant Grace said.
He said the trafficking charges against the former Cairns resident dated to alleged offences between August 2023 and November 2024, and that the money was allegedly being laundered through a local landscaping business, a nail and beauty salon and a heavy equipment machinery business.
“I’ll be confident to say that further charges will be preferred against people within the syndicate, and obviously we’ll continue to investigate dangerous drugs coming into our community.”
Sergeant Grace said the former Cairns resident allegedly moved to Newport before the end of the police investigation.
The 32-year-old was arrested on November 21 at a Newport address, near Redcliffe, where officers seized the Harley Davidson. He was remanded in custody to reappear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on December 16.
Sergeant Grace said the three other people charged did not appear to be Lone Wolf associates, but were connected to the Newport man.
“And it appears that they have previously resided in Townsville at some time, all together.”
On 20 November, Townsville police intercepted a RAV4 on the Bruce Highway at Alligator Creek and allegedly located more than 1.7kg of methylamphetamine.
The driver, a 42-year-old Scarness woman, was charged with a series of drug-related offences. She was remanded in custody to reappear in the Townsville Magistrates Court on January 21.
“The methamphetamine that we’ve located from the lady in Townsville, we estimate that being the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and then the money laundering, we’re estimating that over $650,000 was put through those bank accounts in a period between November 2024 and November 2025.”
On November 21, Ferny Grove officers conducted a search warrant at two Narangba addresses and seized a quantity of methylamphetamine, cocaine and a cryovac machine.
A 36-year-old Narangba man was arrested and charged with multiple drug-related offences.
He was remanded in custody to reappear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on December 8.
On the same day, Townsville officers conducted a search warrant at a Mysterton address and seized mobile phones, a quantity of methylamphetamine and drug utensils.
A 36-year-old Mysterton woman was arrested and charged with one count each of contravening order about information necessary to access information stored electronically, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, possessing utensils or pipes, serious assault police officer by biting and spitting, and obstruct police officer.
She is due to reappear in the Townsville Magistrates Court on December 8.
And also on November 21, Brisbane officers conducted a search warrant at a Mango Hill address and seized mobile phones, a quantity of methylamphetamine and drug utensils.
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Originally published as Alleged QLD drug syndicate included former Cairns man allegedly linked to Lone Wolf gang
