Update: Taskforce Maxima targets Highway 61 OMCG
Detectives from Taskforce Maxima have closed a major operation targeting the members and associates of the Highway 61 Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.
Operation North Veneno began in September 2015 to investigate the suspected trafficking of dangerous drugs and solve crime and property and weapons offences in the Brisbane Region.
Today a number of addresses, including the Highway 61 OMCG premises at Tingalpa, have been the subject of enforcement action including the execution of search warrants.
Officers from the State Crime Command’s Taskforce Maxima, Brisbane Region, Intelligence, Counter-Terrorism and Major Events Command (ICMC) and Operations Support Command as well as officers from the Australian Federal Police National Anti-Gang Squad were involved in today’s operation.
Prior to this morning’s raids and since the start of the operation, police have arrested 20 patched members or associates of Highway 61 OMCG in relation to 86 offences.
Those offences included possession of dangerous drugs/utensils, possession of shortened weapons, break and enters, stealing, fraud, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and various other traffic and breach of bail offences.
As a result of today’s enforcement action, police have commenced proceedings against a further seven people on 28 charges.
Included in today’s arrests were a 47-year-old Tingalpa man, who is alleged to be the Sergeant at Arms of Highway 61 OMCG Brisbane Chapter. He is charged with five counts of supply dangerous drug (ICE), three counts of break and enter, three counts of receiving, three counts of tainted property, and one count each of possess explosives (.243 ammunition) and breach of bail conditions. He will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on tomorrow.
At the gang’s premises, police also issued a notice to appear to a 34-year-old man and a 35-year-old man for possession of drug utensils (ICE pipes) and drug diverted a 22-year- old man for possession of cannabis.
Police also executed search warrants in relation to associates of Highway 61 at Griffin and Manly.
During the search at Griffin, police located approximately 26 grams of ICE, 160 grams of MDMA, 400 millilitres of fantasy (GHB) and $5000 in cash. A 24-year-old woman was charged with three counts of possession of dangerous drugs (exceed schedule), and five other drug offences including possess property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence ($5,000 cash). A 24-year-old man was also charged with possession of a dangerous drug.
The search warrant at Manly resulted in a 40-year-old man being drug diverted for possession of drug utensil.
During the search of the Highway 61 gang premises police located and seized a large amount of property which has been identified as being allegedly stolen during break and enter offences during 2015 and further property dating back to 2001. Among the suspect property recovered by police were four guitars, a large amount of power tools, laptops and mobile phones.
Taskforce Maxima Commander Detective Superintendent Mick Niland said the Queensland Police Service would continue to target OMCG members and associates.
“Once again we find shortened firearms in the possession of OMCG members – and once again we have shut down a gang premises where we will allege that serious criminal activity has been conducted,” Detective Inspector Niland said.
“Today’s enforcement action is a great example of the work that Taskforce Maxima is doing in partnership with detectives and officers from across the region. We will continue to work together to solve property crime and recover stolen items from OMCGs.”
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.
