Police bust alleged gun runners
Operation snares 35 weapons
A five-month long Queensland Police operation including members of three specialised law enforcement divisions has arrested three people allegedly part of a significant criminal syndicate trafficking weapons.
On Friday morning, Queensland Police Service Far North District Detective Inspector Mick Searle said three people had been arrested and charged with 35 weapons, drugs, theft and trafficking offences.
Det Insp Searle said Operation Pitcher was a result of great work by the Tully Crime Investigation Branch, the Major and Organised Crime Squad and the Tactical Crime Squad.
He said officers executed three search warrants at properties in Jarrawong and Tully as part of Operation Pitcher.
He said most weapons seized had been stolen from registered gun owners and urged
people to check their firearms registry and security.
“That Operation Pilcher has been resolved takes these weapons away from being trafficked in underground networks on the Cassowary Coast,” he said.
“It will be alleged the syndicate was responsible for a large
number of property offences and farm thefts between October 2022 and March 2023 where they stole firearms, vehicles and machinery which were on-sold for profit.”
It will be further alleged the group was also responsible for the theft of more than 10,000 litres of diesel from farming
properties. A 32-year-old Tully man has been charged with one count each of unlawful trafficking in weapons (firearms), burglary and receiving tainted property. He has been remanded in custody and is expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on April 10.
A 35-year-old Tully man has
been charged with 11 counts of stealing, three counts of burglary and receiving tainted property, two counts of supplying dangerous drugs and one count each of unlawful supply of weapons, possession of burglary implements and disqualified driving.
He has been remanded in
custody and is expected to appear in the Innisfail Magistrates Court on May 29.
A 45-year-old Tully woman has been issued with a notice to appear in the Innisfail Magistrates Court on June 22 charged with nine counts of stealing and one count of possessing a drug utensil.