Taskforce Maxima – Money laundering charges
Detectives from Taskforce Maxima have issued notices to appear to three people in relation to alleged money laundering activities.
The trio- a 34-year-old Brisbane woman, a 39-year-old Loganlea man and a 50-year-old Canungra man- are all due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 31, 2017 where they face one count each of money laundering.
Detective Superintendent Mick Niland, Commander of Taskforce Maxima, said the charges were the culmination of a protracted investigation which commenced during the 2013 operation Kilo Vantage, which saw three ex-patched members of the Hells Angels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) charged with drug trafficking.
“The three were convicted of trafficking in the Supreme Court in December 2015 – during our investigations it will be alleged that the trio arranged loans of large sums of money for drug customers who were in debt to them for drugs supplied on credit.
“In October 2013 police seized a large number of documents from a Brisbane law firm and have since this time been engaged in a protracted civil court action after Legal Professional Privilege was claimed.
“The documents were released to us in August of this year and after careful analysis notices to appear were issued to three people in relation to alleged money laundering,” Superintendent Niland said.
Detective Superintendent Niland said professional facilitators who enable or assist organised crime groups to carry out their illegal activities are not exempt from the law.
“While these professional groups present a difficult challenge to law enforcement to detect and prosecute, we remain committed to dismantling the many tentacles that organised crime groups and OMCG’s use in their on-going criminal enterprises. The presence of organised crime and its impact on the community is pervasive,” Detective Superintendent Niland said.
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