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Police have seized $20 million worth of illicit drugs and arrested four south-east Queensland men following a major investigation into an organised crime syndicate with links across Australia.
On Wednesday, Queensland police executed 12 simultaneous search warrants at locations across SEQ, including Yarrabilba, Flagstone, Slacks Creek, Karalee, Logan, Redbank Plains and Upper Mount Gravatt.
Large quantities of drugs – 90 kilograms of cocaine, 16 kilograms of methamphetamine, 311 kilograms of ketamine and 58 kilograms of MDMA – were seized during the search, with an estimated street value of $20 million.
Commercial scale laboratory equipment and chemicals used to produce illicit drugs were also found at warehouses south of Brisbane.
Four men were charged as part of the operation led by specialised police drug and organised crime groups, launched last year to investigate reports of increased drug trafficking between Queensland, Northern Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.
Police believe the trafficking is connected to a transnational organised crime syndicate co-ordinating activity from offshore locations using encrypted devices.
All but one of the men arrested on Wednesday were charged with drug trafficking.
Last month, Queensland police arrested five men after a combined 156 kilograms of cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, heroin and ketamine was seized from units in Springwood, Reedy Creek, Clayfield and Mermaid Waters.
Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Craig McGrath said the outcome of this week’s operation highlight “significant resources and expertise being applied to disrupt organised crime at every level”.
“Removing drugs of this scale from circulation has a direct impact on community safety. Every seizure represents less substances reaching our streets and reduces harm to individuals, families and frontline responders across Queensland,” he said.
“Transnational organised crime groups are motivated by profit, with little regard for the damage their activities cause.
“They exploit demand to generate significant financial gain and don’t care about the harm they cause to people, families or the wider community.”
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