The Sunshine Coast Gang Squad have disrupted a major drug distribution operation on the east coast of Queensland under Operation Whiskey Yaniro.
Assisted by the Sunshine Coast Tactical Crime Squad, Drug and Serious Crime Group and Maxima, this operation sits under Operation Victor Albatross which was established to target outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) members and associates on the Sunshine Coast.
An extensive investigation under Operation Whiskey Yaniro led police to intercept a car just off the Bruce Highway in Caboolture on Tuesday night, June 18, on what police will allege was a routine drug distribution route.
Police searched that car and located 13kg of Methamphetamine, 3kg of MDMA, approximately 500g of heroin, 55 pounds of cannabis, 15L of GHB, and four firearms.
The drugs seized have an estimated street value of more than $2.6 million.
The driver of the car, a 43-year-old Scottville man, was arrested at the scene.
Police will allege the drugs seized were sourced from OMCG groups and are regularly distributed across the east coast of Queensland from the Gold Coast to Cairns.
Police then searched an associated storage shed on Mountain View Avenue, Miami where they located an additional three firearms.
The 43-year-old Scottville man has been charged with five counts of possessing dangerous drugs offences, four counts of unlawful possession of weapons offences, two counts of possessing relevant substances or things, and one count each of possessing anything for use in the commission of crime defined in Part 2, possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence under Drugs Misuse Act and authority required to possess explosives.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on September 20.
Police also executed search warrants at two properties in Maroochydore, on Melrose Parade and Sixth Avenue, where they also located and arrested two associates of the 43-year-old man.
A 54-year-old Fortitude Valley man has been charged with four counts of possessing dangerous drugs offences, four counts of breach of bail condition, two counts of possessing relevant substances or things, possessing anything for use in the commission of crime defined in Part 2, possess utensils or pipes etc for use, possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence under Drugs Misuse Act, offence to buy or possess S4 or S8 medicines or hazardous poisons and unlawful possession of weapons.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 24.
A 41-year-old Fortitude Valley woman has been charged with one count each of possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, possessing dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime defined in Part 2 and possess tainted property.
She is due to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 26.
Sunshine Coast Detective Inspector Chris Toohey said this is a significant moment for the east coast of Queensland.
"Police have taken a substantial amount of drugs off the streets that police will allege were on their way to communities from the Gold Coast north to Cairns," Detective Inspector Toohey said.
"This sends a clear message to people involved in the production and distribution of drugs - it will not be tolerated.
"We will do everything in our power to stop dangerous drugs from hitting our streets and harming our kids, our friends and the wider community.
"We will continue to lead proactive, intelligence-based operations to target dangerous and unlawful activities."
Further charges are expected as the investigation continues.
Anyone with information that may assist this operation are urged to contact police.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
