Drug arrests ‘tip of the iceberg’
POLICE claim two alleged drug cooks arrested this week one of whom was found with a pump action shotgun - are part of a much larger bikie-related criminal drug syndicate officers are trying to crack.
Organised Crime Gangs Group Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said the arrests made as part of ‘Operation North Outfield’ were a victory for police, but were only the tip of the iceberg of the drugs syndicate.
“We want to disrupt whole syndicate,” he said.
“If you go in and you take out the three or four heads that’s great, but if you can spend a bit more time and take out everybody down the chain, it’s better.
“They’re part of a large syndicate but they’ve got a pretty the big operation on it’s a big lab.”
The two men remain behind bars after being charged on Monday with drugs and weapons offences.
Officers say they discovered about 3.1 kilograms of MDA and a loaded, sawn-off pump action shotgun in a white van after intercepting the vehicle in Ashmore on Monday.
The driver allegedly ran from the van carrying cash, steroids, about 64 grams of cocaine their own… and fake ID. The other man was arrested in Brisbane that night.
In a subsequent search of a Southport shed allegedly used by both offenders police say they found a “substantial” volume of chemicals and other products used to cook drugs.
A .45 pistol was also found in a car in the shed, say police.
A 36-year-old man was remanded in custody after appearing in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
He is scheduled to appear again on August 25 on a series of charges including the posession and production of drugs, possession of a pump action shotgun and possession of the proceeds of crime.
A 31-year-old was remanded in custody after appearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
He is expected to appear again on September 4 on a number of charges including the possession and production of drugs and possession of the proceeds of crime.
Other searches also relating to ‘Operation North Outfield’ on Tuesday led police to charge two women and one other man after allegedly discovering heroin, methylamphetamine, cannabis, steroids and fake IDs.
They are expected to appear in court next month on drug and property-related charges.