Police smash alleged Queensland drug ring after two-year investigation
Police have arrested four people and charged them with 17 drug-related offences after a massive Qld bust.
Police have busted an alleged drug trafficking ring that operated across southeast Queensland, Townsville and Cairns, arresting four people with 17 drug-related offences after a two-year investigation.
Police will allege the four people charged were involved with supplying, distributing and transporting methylamphetamine from the Moreton Bay region to North and Far North Queensland.
Seven search warrants were executed by police in Newport, Narangba, Mango Hill, Hervey Bay and Townsville, allegedly locating a significant quantity of methylamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, a Harley Davidson motorcycle and mobile phones.
Police launched Operation Xray Rile in 2023 to investigate the alleged supply and distribution of methylamphetamine and money laundering in Cairns.
On November 20, 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 possessing dangerous drugs Schedule 1 drug quantity of or exceeding Schedule 4, possessing dangerous drugs, and contravene access order.
She was remanded in custody to reappear in the Townsville Magistrates Court on January 21.
On November 21, Taskforce Maxima, Ferny Grove CIB, MOCS Townsville and MOCS Brisbane officers executed search warrants at Narangba, Mysterton and Mango Hill. Across the three raids, officers seized methylamphetamine, cocaine, mobile phones, drug utensils and a cryovac machine.
A 32-year-old Newport man, previous of Cairns, was arrested and charged with one count each of trafficking in dangerous drugs, money laundering recklessly, and receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying.
He was remanded in custody to reappear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on December 16.
A 36-year-old Narangba man was arrested and charged with one count each of possessing dangerous drugs Schedule 1 drug quantity of or exceeding Schedule 4, possessing anything for use in the
commission of a crime defined in Part 2, and possessing dangerous drugs Schedule 1 drug quantity of or exceeding Schedule 3 but less than Schedule 4.
He was remanded in custody to reappear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on December 8.
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.
Officer in Charge of the Major and Organised Crime Squad Far Northern, Detective Senior Sergeant Brad Grace, said police have been “unrelenting” in their investigations into the alleged drug syndicate.
“We are grateful for the support of our colleagues across the state in disrupting this alleged offending, and we’ll continue to work with investigators across the state to reduce the harm these dangerous drugs cause our communities,” he said.
Originally published as Police smash alleged Queensland drug ring after two-year investigation
