Drugs, firearms and cash have been seized as part of police efforts to dismantle organised crime and drug trafficking networks operating in the region.
Three people allegedly involved in the trafficking of drugs between Brisbane and the Wide Bay area have been arrested as part of the joint operation between the Organised Crime Gangs Group (OCGG) and the Sunshine Coast Gangs Squad.
As part of Operation Xray Kiano, police conducted a targeted intercept of a car travelling northbound on the Bruce Highway at Chevallum on July 11.
During a search of the car, police located and seized 2kg of methylamphetamine.
A 48-year-old Cooroy man was charged with one count each of possessing dangerous drugs Schedule 1 drug quantity of or exceeding Schedule 4 and possess utensils or pipes etc that had been used.
He has since been remanded in custody and is due to reappear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on September 22.
On July 31, police also executed search warrants across Gympie, Rainbow Beach and Cooroy.
Throughout the operation, including the car intercept on July 11 and subsequent search warrants, police seized nine weapons including firearms, handheld conducted energy devices, and knives, 2.1kg of methylamphetamine, 8.4g of cocaine, 92g of MDMA, 135ml of GBL and $25,000 cash.
On July 31, the 48-year-old man involved in the intercept in Chevallum was arrested at a Cooroy property and further charged with one count each of trafficking in dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime and possess utensils or pipes etc for use.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to reappear at Gympie Magistrates Court on October 13.
A 39-year-old Cooroy woman was arrested in Cooroy on July 31 and charged with one count each of trafficking in dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs Schedule 1 drug quantity of or exceeding Schedule 3 but less than Schedule 4 and possessing dangerous drugs.
She is due to appear in Noosa Magistrates Court on August 12.
A 31-year-old Gympie man was arrested on July 31 in Gympie and charged with 10 counts of possessing dangerous drugs, four counts of possessing dangerous drugs Schedule 1 drug quantity of or exceeding Schedule 3 but less than Schedule 4, unlawful possession of weapons, two counts of authority required to possess explosives, two counts of possessing anything for use in the commission of crime, two counts of possess utensils or pipes etc for use, two counts of receiving tainted property and one count each of supplying dangerous drugs, possession of detachable magazines without licence and trafficking in dangerous drugs.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to reappear in Gympie Magistrates Court on September 29.
A detective senior sergeant said the operation was focused on addressing serious and organised drug offences.
“The operation underscores the ongoing commitment of the OCGG and regional police to combat the proliferation of dangerous drugs and associated criminal activities,” he said.
“On behalf of the OCGG, I’d like to thank the units who have supported this operation including Sunshine Coast Gangs Squad, Wide Bay Burnett District Tactical Crime Squad, Gympie Criminal Investigation Branch, drug dogs and Rainbow Beach general duties officers.
“As a team, we’re committed to disrupting the movement of dangerous drugs in the region to protect our community from the harm they cause.”
