Detectives from the Drug and Serious Crime Group have charged 24 people with firearm and drug offences after the closure of an operation investigating the alleged distribution of dangerous drugs in Far North Queensland
The closure of Operation Tango Pelerine commenced mid-October and a total of five search warrants have been executed over the past few weeks at properties in Mossman and Cairns and one in Calamvale, Brisbane.
The protracted investigation commencing in December 2021, was conducted by officers from the Drug and Serious Crime Group’s Major and Organised Crime Squad (MOCS) Cairns and was assisted by Far Northern District police and Maxima in Brisbane.
During the searches, officers located and seized 13 firearms and ammunition, large quantities of cash and drugs including methylamphetamine and steroids, cocaine, MDMA and stolen property which included jewellery and heavy machinery and $100,000 in gold bullion.
On October 11, police located and seized approximately 2.7 kilograms of methylamphetamine and quantities of other dangerous drugs, ammunition, a money counter and drug related equipment in Calamvale. Investigations indicate that these drugs were bound for North Queensland.
A total of 24 people have been charged with 110 offences as a result of this operation.
A 71-year-old Mowbray man and a 46-year-old Manunda man were both charged with one count of trafficking in dangerous drugs (Methylamphetamine) yesterday morning. The men are expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on November 30.
A 43-year-old Mowbray man was arrested on Wednesday and charged with one count each of trafficking in dangerous drug (Methylamphetamine), possessing dangerous drug (Schedule 1 drug quantity exceeding schedule 2), possessing anything for use in the commission of crime (Australian Currency) and stealing or alternatively receiving stolen property (25 tonne excavator). He is expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on November 30
A 32-year-old Trinity Park woman was arrested on Wednesday and charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count each of trafficking in dangerous drugs, possession of property suspected of being proceeds of an offence, possession of property suspected of having been used in the commission of a drug offence and possess utensils. She is expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on November 30.
On October 19, a 42-year-old White Rock man was arrested and charged with one count each of trafficking in dangerous drug (Methylamphetamine) and possession dangerous drug and 22 counts of supply dangerous drug. He appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court on October 20.
On October 11, a 45-year-old Earlville man was arrested and charged with one count each of trafficking in dangerous drug (Methylamphetamine), possessing anything for use in the commission of crime, contravene order about information necessary to access information stored electronically, three counts of possessing anything used in the commission of crime and four counts of receiving tainted property. On October 25 he was further charged with a second count of trafficking in dangerous drugs. He is expected to next appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on November 30.
On October 11, a 44-year-old Calamvale man was arrested and charged with one count each of possessing dangerous drug (Methylamphetamine) (Schedule 1 drug quantity exceeding schedule 4), possessing anything used in the commission of crime, possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, possess explosives without authority (ammunition) and two counts of possessing dangerous drug. He was remanded in custody and expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on November 7.
Far North Region MOCS Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Andrews said targeting and dismantling drug production and trafficking syndicates remains an ongoing priority for Queensland Police.
“Operations, such as this one, have a significant impact in disrupting the local drug trade and reducing the supply of dangerous drugs available in the Far North,” Detective Senior Sergeant Andrews said.
“Methylamphetamine has a devastating effect on our community and we will continue to work in partnership with local police and agency partners to prevent and detect criminal activity and reduce the harm posed by illicit drugs”.
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