Nanango, Murgon Raids Part
Of Statewide Police Operation

Recent police raids in Murgon and Nanango were part of an eight-day Queensland-wide operation by Taskforce Maxima which has resulted in almost 50 people being charged with a range of offences.

Taskforce Maxima – the police group set up last year to target criminal gangs – co-ordinated “Operation Mike Disrupt 2” which involved detectives from Taskforce Maxima as well as local police.

Taskforce Maxima Commander Detective Superintendent Michael Niland said today the operation was aimed at the “broader criminal networks” of gangs.

He named the Bandidos, Black Uhlans, Hells Angels, Odin’s Warriors, Outlaws and Rebels as targets of the operation, which focussed on illegal weapons and drugs.

Police executed 63 search warrants at addresses from Redcliffe to Cairns and west to Winton as well as 51 “visitations”.

Addresses in Murgon and Nanango were included in the raids.

During the statewide searches police allegedly located quantities of dangerous drugs including methylamphetamine, cannabis, magic mushrooms and drug paraphernalia; weapons including handguns, rifles, sawn-off weapons, shotguns and a pen gun; and approximately $30,000 in cash.

Stolen farm machinery was also seized at Tara.

A total of 48 people were arrested on 134 charges including producing, supplying and possessing dangerous drugs, weapons offences and keeping restricted animals (snakes).

Supt Niland said no patched members of motorcycle clubs had been charged but all the people arrested were “associated” with gangs.

“This (operation) has targeted the broader networks of these clubs in rural and isolated locations,” he said.

The operation also included members of the Taskforce Maxima Road Policing Unit targeting traffic offences. Four vehicles were impounded as a result of enforcement action as well as four drivers charged with drug driving.

Supt Niland said the Taskforce Maxima detectives had worked closely with regional police.

“This deployment has seen the taskforce work with regional police to target the unlawful activities of criminal gangs and their networks. As seen by these efforts we will conduct operations wherever these gangs operate,” Detective Superintendent Niland said.

“The links between gangs and illegal drug distribution is clearly evident. This is why we are targeting them as their criminal activities are far reaching and impact on everyday Queenslanders.”

Regional Crime Coordinator of Southern Region, Detective Acting Superintendent Paul Schmidt, said police would continue to actively target criminal gangs no matter how remote the location may be.

“This operation involving local police and members of Taskforce Maxima resulted in the arrest of nine people on a total of 23 charges relating to drugs, weapons and other offences within the Moreton and South West policing districts,” Detective Acting Superintendent Schmidt said.

“Search warrants were executed in Redcliffe, Murgon, Nanango, Dalby, Roma, Tara and Winton over a number of days demonstrating the lesser populated rural areas will not escape the continued attention of police should people associate with declared criminal organisations.”

Supt Niland said that since Taskforce Maxima had been formed more than 250 former members of motorcycle gangs had “disassociated”, either by using the a “disassociation” form on the QPS website, or by disassociating by affidavit or verbally to police.

[UPDATED]

  Police