August 27, 2015
A 24-year-old Kingaroy man has been arrested and charged has part of “Operation North Gulf 2”, a Taskforce Maxima police operation targeting members of outlaw motorcycle gangs.
On May 15, eight people were charged for a range of serious offences including torture, assault in company, extortion, grievous bodily harm, robbery and possession of drugs.
Police allege this group included ex-members of the Comancheros who claimed to be attempting to start up a chapter of the Rebels in the western suburbs of Brisbane.
After recent investigations, a further eight men – including the Kingaroy resident – have been arrested and charged with 58 criminal offences including grievous bodily harm, drug trafficking, arson of a home, arson of a vehicle, retaliation against a witness, extortion, assault occasioning bodily harm in company, threatening persons with firearm and recruiting persons to join a criminal organisation.
The Kingaroy man faces two counts of arson, one count of deprivation of liberty, assault occasioning bodily harm in company, drug trafficking, and retaliation against a judicial witness with a circumstance of aggravation of being a vicious lawless associate (VLAD).
- A 22-year-old Canberra man was extradited to Queensland on Thursday and has been charged with two counts of arson and one count of grievous bodily harm.
- A 24-year-old Logan man has been arrested and charged with two counts each of arson, burglary, and of receiving tainted property. He was further charged with one count each of retaliation against a judicial witness with a circumstance of aggravation of being a vicious lawless associate (VLAD), deprivation of liberty, assault occasioning bodily harm in company and drug trafficking.
- A 40-year-old Forest Lake man has been charged with four counts of threatening violence, two counts each of arson, being a participant in a criminal organisation and recruiting for a criminal organization, extortion, burglary and receiving tainted property. He was also charged with one count each of deprivation of liberty, assault occasioning bodily harm in company, drug trafficking and retaliation against a judicial witness with a circumstance of aggravation of being a vicious lawless associate (VLAD).
- A 24-year-old Forest Lake man has been charged with two counts each of arson, burglary and receiving tainted property and one count each of being a participant in a criminal organization, recruiting for a criminal organization, deprivation of liberty, extortion, assault occasioning bodily harm in company, drug trafficking, and one count of retaliation against a judicial witness with a circumstance of aggravation of being a vicious lawless associate (VLAD).
- A 33-year-old Forest Lake man has been charged with one count each of extortion, burglary, receiving tainted property and one count of retaliation against a judicial witness with a circumstance of aggravation of being a vicious lawless associate (VLAD).
- A 21-year-old Gold Coast man has been charged with two counts of arson and one count each of drug trafficking, receiving tainted property and retaliation against a judicial witness with a circumstance of aggravation of being a vicious lawless associate (VLAD).
- A 36-year-old Gold Coast man has been charged with one count of retaliation against a judicial witness with a circumstance of aggravation of being a vicious lawless associate (VLAD).
“They used violence against those who stood up to them, including members of their own group. We will be alleging they have used hammers to commit serious assaults on persons and set fire to a vehicle and a residence which could have proved fatal. Intimidation is their business model and the community has had enough,” Detective Acting Superintendent Brendan Smith from Taskforce Maxima said.
“Make no mistake this group of men were a vicious crime gang, who wanted to use the power and networks of outlaw motorcycle gangs to extend their criminality. They are now totally dismantled.”
Police said further arrests were expected.
